INF Treaty – Part 3: How a treaty dismantled a generation of nuclear terror

The world watched as the signatures dried. But what exactly had been agreed? Behind the headlines and the ceremonies, the INF Treaty’s terms were nothing short of revolutionary. For the first time, two rival superpowers would not just limit, but destroy, an entire category of nuclear weapons. The fine print would shape the fate of continents.The heart of the INF Treaty was simple in theory, radical in practice: both the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to eliminate all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between five hundred and five thousand five hundred kilometers. This meant thousands of missiles—those that had cast a shadow over Europe for years—would be dismantled and destroyed. The numbers were staggering. The Soviet Union would eliminate one thousand eight hundred forty-six missiles. The United States, eight hundred forty-six. Launchers, support vehicles, and infrastructure would also be scrapped, erasing the physical legacy of the arms race. And these weren’t just promises. The treaty included unprecedented verification: on-site inspections, data exchanges, and a Special Verification Commission to resolve disputes. Inspectors would walk missile bases, count warheads, and watch concrete silos being filled. For the first time, each side would see inside the other’s arsenal. This transparency marked a new era in arms control.Learn more at: https://thetreatyarchive.com/treaty/inf-treatyThe Treaty Archive is part of The Archive Network by Jonkai Ventures, dedicated to exploring the history of global peace treaties and diplomatic agreements that shaped the modern world.Support the podcast and access exclusive content on Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheArchiveNetworkDiscover more at: https://thetreatyarchive.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.