The United States is ready to consider the possibility of renegotiating the Russian-American Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (INF), accompanied by an expansion of its membership. This was stated by the US President during his annual address to Congress.

Trump said that “Russia repeatedly violated … the conditions” of the INF. “So I announced that the United States officially withdraw from the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate- range and shorter-range missiles, or INF,” said the American leader.

“Perhaps we can agree on another agreement, adding [to it] China and others. Perhaps not. In this case, we will spend [on this kind of military development] much more than all others, and introduce much more innovation in this area,” Trump said.

According to him, Washington is now focused on the creation of a modern missile defense system.

“Over the past two years, we have begun a full — scale restoration of the US Armed forces,” Trump stated. He recalled that in 2018, the Pentagon’s budget was about $ 700 billion, and in 2019 — about $ 716 billion.

“As one of the elements of increasing military power, the United States is developing a new missile defense system, “Trump said, assuring that his administration “will never apologize for defending American interests.”

He also noted that the United States was able to force its NATO allies to increase defense spending.

“We are also forcing other countries to pay their fair share [of contributions to the budget of the North Atlantic Alliance]. NATO has been extremely unfair to the United States for many years. However, we have achieved from NATO allies an increase in military spending by $ 100 billion now”, Trump said.