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US withdraws from nuclear treaty with Russia

The US is formally withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, raising fears of a new arms race with Russia.

The treaty was signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987 and banned missiles with ranges between 500-5,500 km.

Earlier this year the US and Nato accused Russia of violating the pact by deploying a new type of cruise missile, which Moscow has denied.

Thomas Countryman served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation under President Obama. He's currently Chairman of the Arms Control Association in Washington DC.

(Photo: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Credit: Getty Images)

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