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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Bush to Inform Russia U.S. Will Withdraw From ABM Treaty

U.S. President George W. Bush will soon inform Russia that the United States is withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty that bans the testing of missile defense systems, the Associated Press quoted U.S. government officials as saying on Tuesday.


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U.S. President George W. Bush will soon inform Russia that the United States is withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty that bans the testing of missile defense systems, the Associated Press quoted U.S. government officials as saying on Tuesday.

The U.S. president will announce the decision in the next several days, effectively invoking a clause in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty that requires the United States and Russia to give six months' notice before abandoning the pact.

The White House plans called for announcing the decision on Thursday, but officials cautioned that date could change. The four government officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bush believes the United States must vigorously develop a multibillion-dollar land, sea, air and possibly space-based missile defense system to protect the country and its allies from incoming missiles from "rogue" states.

Russia and many U.S. allies have warned Bush that withdrawing from the pact might trigger a nuclear arms race. Critics of the plan also question whether an effective system can be developed without enormous expense.




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