Washington: The UN Security Council (UNSC) will have an open discussion on the US’ move to test medium-range cruise missile conducted earlier this week. These tests were banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty signed in 1987. However, the US had left the treaty earlier after accusing Russia of violating the treaty.
Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Press Secretary said that the meeting will be an open format briefing under the agenda ‘Threats to International Peace and Secretary’.
The US Defence Department had said on Monday that it tested a conventional ground-launched cruise missile that flew about 500 km, which was banned under the INF treaty.
Following the announcement of the tests, Russia and China had requested the Security Council to discuss the matter. The meeting scheduled for today will focus not only about the US’ tests but also about the threat arising from the deployment of such missiles.
Russian senior diplomat said that the US’ plans to deploy medium range missiles will jeopardize the strategic balance of power in the world and hopes for a fair assessment of the US actions in the meeting today.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, accused the US for preparing for the missile tests long before it had pulled out of the INF treaty.
Yesterday, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had urged all member states to intensify efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament.
Military experts see the missile tests as a bid by the United States to keep the balance of power. With China rising as a global military power and not subject to the treaty, the US believes that it will stand to lose once China develops its intermediate cruise missile capability.
However, experts also fear that the US tests will lead to a new nuclear arms raise among the nuclear powers of the world.
