On 05 August, Russia formally announced it would no longer abide by its self-imposed moratorium on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Russia cited the U.S.’s deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia, as well as the recent imposition of new sanctions by the Trump administration, as justifications for its decision. The INF Treaty, a cornerstone of Cold War arms control, was originally signed in 1987. The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2019. This recent development is seen as raising the threat level for NATO member states in Europe and countries in the Asia-Pacific region.