"We want Russia to return to compliance but we are preparing for a world without the INF treaty and a world with more Russian missiles in Europe. NATO has already started this work and I will not predict the outcome but what I can say is that […] NATO has no intention of deploying new land-based nuclear weapons in Europe", he said at the Munich Security Conference.
Similarly, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said Wednesday that the Alliance is not planning to deploy new ground-based nuclear weapons in Europe even after the INF Treaty becomes invalid.
READ MORE: US Lawmaker Urges Congress to Pass Bill Stopping Trump From Leaving INF Treaty
The United States suspended this month its participation in the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) citing Russia’s alleged noncompliance, a claim denied by Moscow. In particular, Washington has claimed that the range of Russia's 9M729 missile allegedly violates the treaty's limits, but Moscow has denied the allegations, calling them unsubstantiated. Russia, in turn, has said that US defense systems in Europe were equipped with launchers capable of firing cruise missiles at ranges prohibited under the INF Treaty.
European leaders have called on Moscow and Washington to preserve the Cold-War era treaty, which banned all ground-launched missiles with ranges of 310 to 3,400 miles. Moreover, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who signed the INF Treaty, has also repeatedly called on the US to engage in dialogue with Russia for the sake of preventing destabilization of the global security situation.
However, US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Thursday that NATO is united in supporting the United States' withdrawal from the treaty.
READ MORE: INF Treaty Collapse: Enough Is Enough!
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said last week that Moscow has done everything possible to preserve the treaty, adding that Russia would take sufficient measures to guarantee its security following the US withdrawal from the INF. However, Russia is open for dialogue if the United States changes its stance, Ryabkov said.
Meanwhile, US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard introduced Friday a new bill to prevent the Trump administration from withdrawing the United States from INF Treaty.
READ MORE: China, Not Russia Real Reason Behind US Exit From INF Treaty – Indian Analyst
"The act would ensure that our country remains complaint with the INF Treaty", Gabbard said. "This is one step that Congress can and must take now… I urge Congress to take quick action". Gabbard also stressed that action must be taken to end what she termed as a new Cold War and to walk back from the abyss of nuclear war.