Trump pulls out of INF pact with Russia

WASHINGTON - With its decision to pull out of a major arms control treaty with Russia, the White House argues it is enhancing security for the United States and its European allies, but critics warned it could spark a dangerous new arms race with Moscow and a return to the nuclear tensions of the Cold War.

President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration has started the process to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a cornerstone of superpower arms control for a generation, unless Russia destroys a new class of medium-range missiles that U.S. officials allege are noncompliant.

Washington says Moscow is violating the INF treaty by producing and deploying a ground-fired cruise missile that could