The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which was signed on December 8, 1987, officially came into effect on June 1, 1988. The treaty was a pivotal agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at eliminating all intermediate-range (300 to 3,400 miles) and shorter-range nuclear missiles. This monumental arms control agreement was the result of extensive negotiations that took place during a time of heightened tensions in the Cold War. U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev played crucial roles in the negotiations, reflecting a possible thaw in superpower relations.

The treaty mandated the destruction of a total of 2,692 missiles, with specific timelines established for dismantlement. The U.S. was to destroy 846 missiles, while the Soviet Union was to dismantle 1,614. This was the first arms control agreement to provide for the elimination of an entire class of nuclear weapons as opposed to merely limiting their growth. Both nations employed a comprehensive verification regime, which included on-site inspections, to ensure compliance with the treaty's terms.

The implementation of the INF Treaty was significant not only because of the immediate reduction of nuclear arsenals but also because it marked a new era in arms control, characterized by transparency and cooperation. It generated a broader dialogue regarding nuclear disarmament and set a precedent for future arms treaties, including the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The treaty was a reflection of changing political dynamics towards the end of the Cold War, with leaders from both sides recognizing the dangers that the proliferation of nuclear weapons posed not just to their nations, but to global stability.