C) The signing of the INF Treaty

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:58:33 +0000

# C) The Signing of the INF Treaty: A Landmark in Cold War Disarmament The signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987 stands as one of the most pivotal moments in international arms control and Cold War diplomacy. Officially titled the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of All Intermediate- and Shorter-Range Missiles, the INF Treaty marked the first time in history that an arms control agreement eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. ## What Was the INF Treaty? The INF Treaty was a landmark bilateral agreement signed on December 8, 1987, in Washington, D.C., by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The treaty mandated the elimination of all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, along with their production, testing, and deployment capabilities.