Fears of a new U.S.-Russia arms race ratcheted up a notch when the Trump administration selected Friday, the day the intermediate-range nuclear missile treaty was no longer in effect, to test fire a new weapon. Washington had given notice on February 2nd that it would leave the treaty, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying that the administration will not remain party to any pact that is “deliberately violated by Russia.” The Americans insist that an entire new weapons system has been created during the treaty, establishing a threat to the U.S. and its allies. President Trump was apparently addressing critics when he added that he has been working on a treaty with both Russia and China that would reduce nuclear weapons across the board and hinted at a positive prognosis for its completion. At the same time there is heightened concern that the long-range version of the treaty will not be renewed when it comes due in 2021. Allegations of Russian cheating on the intermediate-range missile treaty are not new and were heard during the Obama administration as well, but absent the threat to abrogate the pact.