ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the possible reasons for its abandonment. It investigates the contemporary missiles development by the United States and Russia post-INF Treaty. The chapter examines the China factor and its shadow on the treaty. Lastly, it seeks to answer what to expect in the future. It argues that in the contemporary age, bilateral treaties are collapsing because of the changed security environment, which has more potential adversaries combined with continuous proliferation of new nuclear missile technologies. The intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was a landmark arms control and disarmament bilateral treaty between the United States and Soviet Union. The US’ departure from the INF Treaty increased the momentum of “development of land-based medium-range cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic systems”. China perceives the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty and the plans for future deployment of ground-based missiles to Asia as part of the strategy of the US to contain China.
