Source: Global Security Newswire, 14 September 2011
Russia on Tuesday reaffirmed its demand for a legally enforceable pledge that a planned NATO antimissile system would not be aimed against the nation's nuclear weapons, Interfax reported (see GSN, Sept. 12).
Moscow said the announcement last week that Turkey would host a long-range radar system and the inking of an agreement yesterday that authorizes the deployment of U.S. missile interceptors in Romania have increased the urgency of its demand (see GSN, today and Sept. 13).
"We note that the developments make it even more important to receive firm and legally binding guarantees from the U.S. and NATO that the missile defenses they are deploying in Europe will not be aimed against Russia's strategic nuclear forces," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an online statement.
The Western military bloc insists its missile interceptors are focused on countering a potential ballistic missile attack from the Middle East, particularly Iran. The Kremlin has threatened to pursue a new nuclear arms buildup if it does not reach an agreement with NATO on the shield.
"The agreement with Romania on the deployment of a ground version of [Standard Missile 3] interceptor missiles and the Aegis system at the former air force base of Daveselu as well as the recent announcement on upcoming deployment of the U.S. forward-based missile defense radar AN/TRY-2 in Turkey, show that the U.S. is swiftly and consistently implementing its missile defense plans in Europe," the ministry said.
Moscow noted that Washington is pursuing its antimissile plans without either a U.S.-Russia agreement or a NATO-Russia deal on missile defense in place. The two sides agreed last November to consider opportunities for collaborating on the European missile shield, but the talks have not yet produced any agreements (Interfax I, Sept. 13).
The Kremlin's point man on missile defense, Dmitry Rogozin, on Tuesday discussed with NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen his government's concerns about the plan, Interfax reported.
"What primarily concerns Russia is the position assumed not by the Americans but by the European NATO members regarding the chances of cooperation between Russia and the alliance on plans to build a missile defense project exclusively on an equal basis with strict observance of the parties' strategic interests," Rogozin said.
The ambassador to NATO said it was in his country's interest that the alliance's antimissile system not even have the theoretical capability to intercept Russian long-range missiles. Toward the end of this next decade, the United States intends to deploy next-generation SM-3 interceptors capable of eliminating intermediate-range missiles and ICBMs.
Rogozin was slated on Wednesday to hold more missile defense talks in Paris with French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet and other senior officials.
France recently indicated NATO could provide Moscow with the guarantee it has demanded.
"The specifics of negotiations in Paris, compared to the Italian and other consultations that have already been held, is in the need to place a special emphasis on meetings with French parliamentarians," Rogozin said. "I am planning to respond to an invitation from the French senators and deputies working hard on setting up a special commission to draw up a report on European missile defense problems."
"Since France is a European country possessing a thermonuclear missile potential independent of NATO, a conversation on risks that the deployment of a U.S. missile defense in Europe poses to France is undoubtedly an important conversation to both Russia and France," the Russian envoy said (Interfax II, Sept. 13).