Neocons have taken over Trump’s foreign policy

Washington’s announced termination of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (INF), the only US-Russia arms control pact limiting deployed nuclear weapons, “is another example of the reckless neocon policies of the Trump administration,” said Rodney Martin, a former congressional staffer based in Los Angeles, California.

“The neocons have taken over Donald Trump’s foreign policy,” Martin said.

“Unless the American people put their foot their down and end this Russiaphobia, which is every bit as strong and pervasive in the American foreign policy as Islamophobia, then we’re probably in for a very bleak future, especially if Donald Trump is re-elected,” he added.

On Saturday, the United States and Russia flew nuclear bombers over the Norwegian Sea, amid rising tensions following the recent withdrawal of Washington and Moscow from the landmark Inf treaty and the build-up of NATO military forces on the US-led alliance’s eastern flank near Russia.

Trump suspended the INF treaty in February and threatened full withdrawal in six months. His Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree in response, suspending Moscow’s participation in the nuclear arms treaty.

INF requires the US and Russia to eliminate all their nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges of 1,000–5,500 km (620–3,420 mi). It also bans either side from stationing short- and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe.

The accord was signed towards the end of Cold War in 1987 between former US President Ronald Reagan and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

The US argues that Russia has jeopardized the treaty for years by deploying ground-launched missiles that fall within the banned range.

Russia has denied violating the agreement and has accused the US instead of breaking the deal, adding that a withdrawal from the accord would trigger an arms race.