Russia has voiced concern over Romania’s decision to host United States interceptors for a European missile shield and demanded legal safeguards that the system would not target Russian missiles.
“According to our estimates, the planned missile defence system may pose risks for Russian strategic nuclear deterrence forces in the future,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement was issued hours after the U.S. and Romania announced that missile interceptors will be stationed at a former Soviet air base in southern Romania.
“We regret to say that practical steps on building the European segment of the U.S. global missile defence system are being made regardless of the Russian-U.S. dialogue on missile-defence issues, which was launched under the initiative of President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama,” the Russian statement said.
Moscow is concerned that U.S. interceptors would have the capacity to target Russia’s long-range missiles once the missile shield is fully deployed by 2020 under Mr. Obama’s “phased adaptive approach” plan. After Washington rejected Moscow’s proposal to build a joint missile system in Europe, the Kremlin shifted emphasis towards seeking security guarantees.
“In this situation the necessity of obtaining legal guarantees from the U.S. that its missile defence system will not be aimed against Russia’s strategic nuclear forces becomes extra relevant,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement.
