Following the decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), considered to be a centerpiece of superpower arms control since the Cold War, the S&D Group called for a debate on this issue in the European Parliament during the next session in Strasbourg.
The S&D Group leader Udo Bullmann said:
“We are deeply worried by Trump’s decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty, which is one of the main agreements that helped to end the Cold War. We are aware that the decision follows years of unresolved dispute over Russian compliance with the treaty. However, this is no reason to move backwards and dismantle the entire thing.
“We do not want to see new arms races in Europe and the world! The Socialists and Democrats have always believed that our security depends on disarmament. There is no doubt that a world without nuclear weapons is a safer one for everybody.
“That is why we asked to put this crucial item on the agenda of the February plenary session and take a firm stance. The EU must not simply watch a renewed arms race between US and Russia. We have to be at the forefront of new global initiatives for arms control.
“In the meantime, we hope for a solution to be found before the US decision comes into effect.”
