Westminster Diary

Nicholas Soames MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “what the weaponry owned by Russia is that has resulted in that country being in violation of its INF Treaty obligations; and what the location is of that weaponry.”

Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded “On 4 December 2018, NATO Allies declared that Russia has developed and fielded the 9M729 missile system, violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and posing significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security. We fully support the assessment that Russia’s covert testing, production and fielding of this ground-launched cruise missile system is a material breach of the INF Treaty.”

Jim Cunningham MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on the summit in Vietnam between the US President and the Supreme Leader of North Korea.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded, “The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses with US Secretary of State Pompeo how to resolve the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. We hope that the talks in Vietnam between President Trumpand Kim Jong Un will prove a basis for progress. We will continue to work closely with the US and our partners to support negotiations and to implement sanctions in full until North Korea’s complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.”

On Wednesday 6th March  2019 Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, gave evidence to the select committee on International relations.

Nicholas Soames MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “what the timeframe is for Russia to comply with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty after that country’s latest material breach.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded stating “The US first declared Russia to be in violation of its INF Treaty obligations in 2014 and has done so many more times in the last five years. NATO Allies have also been expressing shared concerns about Russian non-compliance since 2014. Russia has offered no credible response. On 2 February 2019, the US began the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty. The Treaty’s formal withdrawal process takes six months and provides Russia with a final opportunity to return to full and verifiable compliance with its Treaty obligations.”

Nicholas Soames, MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “on what date was the latest material breach of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty by Russia.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded “On 4 December 2018, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declared Russia to be in material breach of the INF Treaty. On the same day, NATO Foreign Ministers issued a statement supporting the finding of the US. The US has been expressing concerns about Russia non-compliance since 2013 and in 2014 declared its findings that Russia was in violation of its Treaty obligations.”

Nicholas Soames, MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,“how many ground-based weapons have been destroyed under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded “Only the US and the Soviet Union were parties to the INF Treaty when it came into force. Each was permitted extensive on-site inspections for verification purposes. According to the US Department of State and other non-government sources, a total of 2,692 missiles were eliminated following the Treaty’s entry into force.”

 

 

On Wednesday 27th February 2019 Mr Rafael Grossi, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the International Organisations in Vienna and President-designate of the NPT’s 2020 Review Conference, and Mr Bert Koenders, former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave evidence to the select committee on International relations.

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