dec 8, 1987 - Regan and Gorbachev Sign the INF Treaty

Description:

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Rage Nuclear Forces Treaty, which required both countries to eliminate all of their medium and short-range nuclear missiles. This treaty marked the first time that the United States and the Soviet Union had agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals, hence the importance in regard to the Cold War. The treaty came after several years of negotiations and marked a significant shift in the relationship between the two superpowers. The missiles in question were capable of striking targets with very little warning, meaning the removal was seen as a symbolic victory for both Regan and Gorbachev, as it demonstrated their willingness to work together towards the goal of reducing tensions and avoiding Nuclear War. The treaty was eventually ratified by both the U.S. Senate and the Soviet Parliament despite opposition to the treaty from U.S. senators. The delay was a result of concern for the future security implications for both the United States and Europe, but the measure ultimately passed.


“INF Treaty (1987).” U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian, 16 September 2020, https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/104266.htm.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: