The U.S. Department of Defense announced it will begin manufacturing components for conventionally armed ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs) with ranges previously prohibited by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Though research into GLCM technology was authorized by the White House in 2017, the United States has not engaged in its production since signing the Treaty in 1987. A Pentagon spokesperson indicated that the development program can be terminated and reversed if Russia satisfactorily verifies its compliance with the Treaty by August 2019 when the agreement officially expires.