Special to WorldTribune.com

Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

Moscow violated a key strategic nuclear arms accord by developing a ground-launched cruise missile banned under the 1987 agreement, according to the State Department.

“The United States has determined that the Russian federation is in violation of its obligations under the [Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces] Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 500 kilometers to 5,500 kilometers, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles,” the annual arms compliance report made public Tuesday states.

The INF treaty breach, which had been kept secret by the Obama administration since 2010, is a setback for President Barack Obama’s arm-control-focused national security policies. …

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, criticized the administration for delaying release of the report on the violation. The report is required under law to be sent to Congress in April.

“Only after almost two years of the Congress pushing him has the president finally said what was plain to see: Russia is cheating on its agreements with the United States, putting the United States and its allies in East Asia and Europe at risk,” Rogers said. …

Congress is investigating why the administration failed to inform oversight committees of the treaty breach since 2010. The treaty violation, if it had been disclosed earlier, likely would have affected Senate ratification of the 2010 New START arms accord with Russia.

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