---
title: "INF Treaty — Definition & Meaning | Model Diplomat"
description: "The INF Treaty is a 1987 US-Soviet accord eliminating ground-launched missiles. It's crucial for understanding arms control history and policy."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/inf-treaty"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The INF Treaty was a 1987 US–Soviet arms-control accord that eliminated all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.
- Who signed the INF Treaty and when?
- What range of missiles did the INF Treaty ban?
- Why did the INF Treaty collapse in 2019?
- Why was the INF Treaty considered historically significant?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The INF Treaty was a 1987 US–Soviet arms-control accord that eliminated all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.

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## Timeline

1. 8 December 1987

   The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed in Washington on by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev,…

2. 1 June 1988

   The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed in Washington on 8 December 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mik…

3. 2 August 2019

   On the United States formally withdrew after a six-month notice period, and Russia declared the treaty defunct the same day.

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Example

In 2019, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the INF Treaty, citing Russia's deployment of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile.

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