Russia deploys cruise missile in apparent treaty violation

In an apparent treaty violation, Russia has deployed a cruise missile, which comes as the latest move in a string of provocations by Moscow in the early days of the Trump administration, which has called for warmer relations with the Vladimir Putin Government.

Quoting a senior military officer, the CNN reports that Moscow has also positioned a spy ship off the coast of Delaware and carried out flights near a US Navy warship, concerning American officials.

The ground-launched cruise missile seems to run counter to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the senior military official said.

"The Russian Federation remains in violation of its INF Treaty obligations not to possess, produce or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 to 5,500 kilometers, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles," acting spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement issued Tuesday.

"We have made very clear our concerns about Russia's violation, the risks it poses to European and Asian security, and our strong interest in returning Russia to compliance with the treaty," Toner added.

The Russian cruise missile would be capable of threatening NATO's European members. Secretary of Defense James Mattis is due to visit NATO's headquarters to meet with his counterparts Wednesday.

The development comes in the wake of Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, being forced to resign after failing to fully disclose conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the US concerning US sanctions, while he was not yet in office.