Trey Pollard, trey.pollard@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, the Trump Administration announced it would withdraw the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia. The INF Treaty is one of the most successful nuclear weapons treaties, achieving the destruction of more than 2, 690 short and medium range missiles. As recently as 2017 the U.S. Department of Defense advised that the U.S. “should not unilaterally withdraw from the INF.”
The Trump Administration has also threatened to leave the NewSTART treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) which reduced the number of nuclear weapons deployed by Russia and U.S., to 1,550.
In response, Sierra Club Nuclear Policy Director John Coequyt released the following statement:
“This is a dangerous departure from a long-standing and successful treaty to reduce nuclear weapons, and we rise with leaders in Congress and across the country in opposition to this unnecessary and reckless decision.
“Sierra Club supports Congressional action to assure the continuance of the historic INF and NewSTART nuclear weapons treaties. That is because we know that creating and storing nuclear weapons is inherently risky, and accidents, unintentional launches and the intentional use of nuclear weapons are beyond the capacity of nations to predict or to control, or survive. The Sierra Club urges the elimination of all nuclear weapons in order to preserve and protect the planet.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.