{"id":54061,"date":"2019-02-16T11:20:33","date_gmt":"2019-02-16T11:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/16\/merkel-nudges-china-to-help-save-the-inf-treaty\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:26:25","slug":"merkel-nudges-china-to-help-save-the-inf-treaty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/munich-security-conference\/2019\/02\/16\/merkel-nudges-china-to-help-save-the-inf-treaty\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkel nudges China to help save the INF Treaty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MUNICH \u2013 German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants China to join negotiations about saving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She made the appeal at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 16, directing her words at the highest-ranking Chinese government official in the audience, Yang Jiechi, member of the Politburo and director of the Office of Foreign Affairs. \u201cI know there are many reservations, but we would be delighted\u201d about Chinese participation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merkel warned that Russia and the United States walking away from the 1987 pact could result in a new arms race in Europe. While the agreement was between Washington and Moscow, it has been key for Germany\u2019s and Europe\u2019s security for decades, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States announced weeks ago that it was retreating from the pact, reacting to what U.S. and European leaders believe is a years-long history of Russian violations. Moscow in turn also announced it would no longer be bound by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\t