The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), signed in Washington on 8 December 1987 by the then US President, Ronald Reagan, and the President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union), Mikhail Gorbachev,

–  having regard to the statement of 21 October 2018 by US President Donald Trump threatening the withdrawal of the US from the INF Treaty,

–  having regard to President Trump’s statement of 1 February 2019 confirming the withdrawal of the US from the INF Treaty,

–  having regard to the statement of 2 February 2019 by Russian President Vladimir Putin confirming his government’s suspension of Russia’s participation in the treaty,

–  having regard to the statement on the INF Treaty issued by NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 4 December 2018,

–  having regard to the remarks by Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini at the seventh EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference, held in Brussels on 18 and 19 December 2018,

–  having regard to the Joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation, signed in Brussels on 10 July 2018,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the INF Treaty was signed between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 as an arms control agreement eliminating all land-based ballistic and cruise missiles and launchers with a range of between 500 and 5 500 km;

B.  whereas by May 1991 some 2 692 missiles had been eliminated in accordance with the terms of the treaty; whereas 10 years of on-site inspections then followed; whereas more than 3 000 missiles containing nuclear warheads were ultimately removed on account of the INF Treaty;

C.  whereas the INF Treaty has been central to upholding the security of Europe and its NATO partners for more than three decades;

D.  whereas NATO and the United States have repeatedly raised their concerns with Russia about its missile development activities, in particular as regards the 9M729 missile system, which they consider to be in breach of the INF Treaty;

E.  whereas on 21 October 2018 US President Donald Trump declared his intention to withdraw the United States from the treaty, citing Russian non-compliance;

F.  whereas the United States formally suspended the treaty on 1 February 2019 after the 60-day deadline for Russia to return to full compliance had elapsed; whereas Russia suspended the treaty on 2 February 2019;

G.  whereas, since withdrawing from the treaty, Russia has started work on new medium-range ballistic and hypersonic missile systems; whereas the United States has also announced plans to conduct research and development activities involving weapons banned under the INF Treaty;

H.  whereas NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Russia to take advantage of the six-month period offered by the United States to return to full compliance;

I.   whereas Russia repeatedly denied that it had violated the treaty during the period 2014-2017, precipitating the lack of confidence in or enforcement of the INF Treaty;

J.  whereas prior to the withdrawal of the US from the treaty, Russia confirmed that it would deploy RS-26 intercontinental ballistic missiles 1 200 km East of Moscow in early 2019;

K.  whereas China, a non-signatory to the INF Treaty, has conducted a widespread proliferation of its missile arsenal, including delivery agents such as multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles (MIRV) and Jin-class ballistic missile submarines, expanding its range and ballistic missile arsenal, currently believed to include 1 200 short-range ballistic missiles, 200-300 medium-range ballistic missiles and 75-100 intercontinental ballistic missiles, exponentially and raising the question of whether a new treaty which binds the US, Russia and China is needed;

1.  Supports the continuation of the INF Treaty as a cornerstone of global non-proliferation and believes that the treaty has been central to European peace and security for more than three decades;

2.  Endorses the statement by NATO Foreign Ministers that Russia has developed missile systems which violate the INF Treaty and which pose a threat to Euro-Atlantic security; agrees, furthermore, with NATO’s assessment that the United States has remained in full compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty;

3.  Calls on Russia to return to full and verifiable compliance with the INF Treaty as soon as possible and urges its commitment to the long-term future of the agreement;

4.  Recognises the importance of full transparency and dialogue in the interests of building trust and confidence in implementation of the INF Treaty and any other agreements which support strategic stability and security;

5.  Strongly supports initiatives aimed at strengthening non-proliferation and disarmament, and encourages a renewal of constructive dialogue between the United States and Russia in seeking to achieve stronger rules and guarantees regarding their respective missile and nuclear capabilities;

6.  Remains fully committed to effective international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation;

7.  Underlines the importance of unity between the United States and its NATO partners in maintaining Euro-Atlantic security and deterrence and NATO’s defence posture;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President and Members of Congress of the United States, the President of the Russian Federation and the Members of the Russian State Duma and the Federation Council.