Putin: US Missile System Aims at Neutralizing Russia Nukes
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US is trying to "neutralize Russia's nuclear potential" with its on-going deployment of a missile defense shield in Europe. The Russian president has promised a response.
"References to Iran and North Korea nuclear threats are just a cover for the true purpose [of NATO missile defense]. That is to neutralize the potential of other nuclear states not the US or its allies - primarily Russia," Putin said during a meeting in Sochi dedicated to national military development. "The US is attempting to achieve strategic military superiority, with all the consequences that entails."
Vladimir Putin has reminded that Iran reached a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in July. The agreement would remove sanctions that have crippled its economy, in exchange for severe restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program.
Russia has been repeatedly told Iran is the main threat.
"Now, the Iranian problem is off the table - treaties have been signed and ratified. Yet, the work on missile defense continues, as before," Putin said.
The Russian leader promised Russia would take the "necessary measures to respond by strengthening its own missile defense."
"And at the first stage we are also going to develop strike weapons that can penetrate any missile defense shield."
Over the last three years, the Russian defense industry has created and successfully tested a range of promising weapons that can operate against a multilayer missile defense system, the Russian president said.
Putin said Russia's concerns over US missile system had been "ignored."
"We have pointed out that these actions [construction of the shield] are an attempt to undermine the nuclear parity principle, and to destabilize the existing world and regional order."
Last month, nine NATO states conducted a joint test of the ship-mounted anti-missile Aegis system in its first ever European exercise, off the coast of Scotland. Days later, the US staged a separate $230-million intercept of dummy nuclear launches near Wake Island in the Pacific.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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