Russia threatens Europe over US missile plans
RENATA GOLDIROVA
04.06.2007 @ 09:26 CET
Russia's president Vladimir Putin has revived the atmosphere of the Cold war era - when Washington and Moscow both aimed missiles at each other – by threatening to target Russian weapons towards European territory, if the US builds its missile shield in Eastern Europe.
"It is obvious that if part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States is located in Europe we will have to respond," Kremlin's chief Vladimir Putin told selected reporters from G8 countries on Sunday (3 June). "What kind of steps are we are going to take in response? Of course we are going to acquire new targets in Europe."
Putin has said he will aim Russian missiles at Europe (Photo: ec.europa.eu)
Moscow's iciest rhetoric yet comes as US president George Bush arrives in Europe for a visit that includes the three-day G8 summit in Germany, but also meetings in the Czech republic (4 June) and Poland (8 June) - the two countries potentially hosting the US shield.
Moscow does not accept Washington's argument that the system - consisting of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech republic - is meant to defend the US and Europe from Iran. Russia has also rejected an offer to inspect the sites and cooperate in the project.
Instead, Mr Putin has accused Washington of trying to upset the global strategic military balance, saying Washington is creating a new arms race.
"We are being told the anti-missile defence system is targeted against something that does not exist. Doesn't it seem funny to you?" Mr Putin said. "We lift from ourselves any responsibility for the steps we take in response, because we are not the ones who are initiating the arms race in Europe."
The US plan to place its defence system in Russia's backyard have put relations between the two superpowers under the biggest test since the Cold War, with the latest comments just the tip of the iceberg.
Earlier this year, Putin announced Moscow would freeze its commitments under the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe treaty - signed in the dying months of the Cold War – which places limits on the number of conventional weapons across the continent. Last week, Moscow tested a new long-range, multi-warhead missile.
The US president himself tried to play down Russia's concerns on Friday (1 June) by saying "the Cold War is over. I don't view Russia as an enemy and I've got a good relationship with Vladimir Putin and I intend to keep it that way."
According to the White House it was "ludicrous" to believe the US plan would be a threat to Russia, arguing that 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic would be no match for Russia's huge arsenal of estimated 16,000 nuclear warheads, 7,200 of which are believed to be operational.
The US president is due to meet his Russian counterpart at the three-day G8 summit in the German resort of Heiligendamm between 6 and 8 June.
