Russia fears that the United States’ deployment of an antimissile system in Europe close to its borders could potentially cause a “surprise” nuclear attack on Russia, according one Russian general.
“The presence of American [Anti-Ballistic Missile] sites in Europe and ABM-capable ships in the seas and oceans close to Russia’s territory creates a powerful clandestine potential for delivering a surprise nuclear missile strike against Russia,” Viktor Poznikhir, deputy head of operations of the Russian general staff, said Tuesday during a disarmament conference in Geneva.
This perceived threat is not new and reached its peak under Obama’s presidency. Days before Donald Trump assumed office President Obama ordered the largest deployment of US troops since the end of the Cold War close to the Russian border. The US had also planed to construct a missile defense system in Poland (and the Czech Republic), but the plan was scrapped early in Obama’s tenure. In May 2016, the Obama administration launched a different ABM system in Romania. The Kremlin is not happy about the troop deployment: “We perceive it as a threat. These actions threaten our interests, our security,” Moscow responded.
Some 65 members states in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva are taking part in the event, which focuses on global security. Russia used the stage to complain about America’s nuclear and antimissile capabilities as a threat to world peace.
The United States’ global antiballistic missile system is provoking a new arms race, the Russian general declared. He referred to last year’s special report by Russian scientists, concluding that America’s antiballistic missile system could intercept both Russian and Chinese ballistic rockets aimed at the U.S. (U.S. has rejected such capability). Poznikhir used the Geneva stage to claim again that Russia considers this a threat to its missile capacity and would take countermeasures.
“Russia is forced to take adequate countermeasures aimed at preventing the existing possible damage to the security of the state as a result of the further build-up of the US ABM capabilities.”
Russian top brass also said the U.S. attempt to get an advantage over Russia and China is undermining the current global security balance of power.
Back in February Moscow also claimed that NATO’s increased spending would lead to a new cold war.
Last week President Trump said that the U.S. has to be“top of the pack” when it comes to national nuclear arsenals.
