In another necessary repudiation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s escalating aggression, a unified NATO on Tuesday called out Russia’s breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
While it has long been clear that Russia is in breach of that treaty, the collective agreement of NATO members to that effect is significant. It signals that which NATO exists to signal: an alignment of common resolution in face of a shared threat.
This statement also serves another purpose: Undercutting Russia’s diplomatic narrative that it is America, not Russia, that is the problem. That’s important because Russia wages a crafty diplomatic strategy built on carefully constructed falsehoods that are presented as evidence of Russian political moderation. These lies have been apparent in Russia’s handling of its support for Bashar Assad’s slaughter in Syria and in its deflection from Putin’s employment of nerve-agent wielding assassins on British soil.
NATO’s message was unequivocal: “Allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system [the 9M729] which violates the INF Treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security. We strongly support the finding of the United States that Russia is in material breach of its obligations under the INF Treaty.”
The 29 allies also took pains to note that Russia’s INF breach is not treated in a vacuum. “This is part of Russia’s broader pattern of behavior,” NATO noted, “that is intended to weaken the overall Euro-Atlantic security architecture.” The alliance is correct. Putin’s strategy is underpinned by his effort to fray Western alliances wherever possible.
Yet, the alliance statement also preemptively pushed back against Putin’s inevitable angry response, warning that “NATO will continue to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the Alliance’s overall deterrence and defense posture.” It was the right move. On Wednesday, the Russian president reacted by warning that any NATO responses will mean Russia “will also do it.”
Regardless, the real takeaway here is its offering of more evidence that, aside from President Trump’s occasional lapses, the U.S. is acting on many fronts to make NATO stronger.
