On this day June 1, 1988, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union officially went into effect. Originally signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987, the treaty was a landmark agreement in Cold War diplomacy and arms control.
The INF Treaty banned the possession, production, and flight testing of ground launched nuclear missiles with ranges between 620 and 3,420 miles (intermediate range) and between 310 and 620 miles (shorter range). It also required the destruction of 2,692 missiles from both nations, marking the first time the superpowers agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals and eliminate an entire category of weapons.
Fun fact: The treaty included extensive on-site inspections, a first in U.S.-Soviet arms agreements, helping build trust and transparency during a period of major global tension.
The INF Treaty banned the possession, production, and flight testing of ground launched nuclear missiles with ranges between 620 and 3,420 miles (intermediate range) and between 310 and 620 miles (shorter range). It also required the destruction of 2,692 missiles from both nations, marking the first time the superpowers agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals and eliminate an entire category of weapons.
Fun fact: The treaty included extensive on-site inspections, a first in U.S.-Soviet arms agreements, helping build trust and transparency during a period of major global tension.
