WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Department of Defense is considering counterforce and countervailing options in response to alleged Russian Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty violations, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Wednesday.
“We are looking at our alternatives in the areas of defense against the systems that they might field in violation of the INF treaty, counterforce options, and countervailing options,” Carter said in a testimony to the US House Armed Service Committee.
The Defense Secretary noted that the US response to alleged violations is two-fold, including diplomatic and possible military measures.
The United States says Russia is violating the INF Treaty by developing and testing a ground-launched cruise missile.
Russia has responded that the United States violates the agreement with its anti-ballistic missile systems development.
The United States and the Soviet Union signed the INF Treaty in 1987, banning nuclear and conventional ground-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 310-3417 miles (500-5500 kilometers).
