Bolton Rejects Criticism of Decision to Leave INF

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton on Wednesday pushed back against criticism of the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from a bilateral nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, noting the Kremlin has been in breach of the agreement for at least six years.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Alexander Hamilton Society in Washington, Bolton echoed President Trump's assertion that due to Russia's repeated violations the only country bound by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF, is the United States. While considered a critical step in diffusing the Cold War at the time of its signing, Bolton accused Russia and adversaries like China of taking advantage of the deal.

"We're at a point in terms of Russian violations where the president has decided to get out of the treaty and people have said, ‘Oh my goodness, can't you just try to bring the Russians back into compliance?'" Bolton said.

"Well, let's review the bidding on that diplomatically...