The INF Treaty: An Interpretation

Abstract

On December 8, 1987, Gorbachev and Reagan signed the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty eliminating medium- and shorter-range nuclear missiles. Immediately afterwards they entered into three days of discussions at the White House that yielded statements reflecting a significantly softer tone in their relationship. On the one hand, they promised to press ahead in negotiations at Geneva for a second treaty that would cut in half their long-range strategic forces (i.e., both land- and sea-based missiles and bombers); on the other, they agreed to keep on talking despite continued disagreements over Star Wars and various regional issues.

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