MOSCOW – Russia sees the planned U.S. missile defense system as a potential threat to its nuclear forces and may review its participation in a landmark nuclear arms treaty, officials said today.
The New START deal, the centerpiece of Barack Obamas efforts to reset ties with Russia and the most significant arms control pact in nearly two decades, took effect last week. It limits each country to 1,550 strategic warheads, down from the current ceiling of 2,200. The treaty doesnt prevent the U.S. from building new missile defense systems, but Russia has warned that it reserves the right to withdraw from the treaty if the United States significantly boosts its missile shield.
Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reaffirmed Monday that a buildup in the U.S. missile defense capability would prompt Moscow re-consider its obligations under the New START treaty.
"If the U.S. increases the qualitative and quantitative potential of its missile defense ... a question will arise whether Russia should further abide by the treaty or would have to take other measures to respond to the situation, including military-technical measures," Ryabkov said, according to Russian news agencies.
Russia was strongly critical of the previous U.S. administrations plan to deploy missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic and hailed Obamas decision to scrap it. But the Kremlin has remained concerned about revamped U.S. missile defense plans and continued to see them as potentially dangerous to its security. NATO last fall approved a plan for a U.S.-led missile shield in Europe and invited Russia to join, but Moscow hasnt yet made a definite commitment. Experts from both sides will analyze the issue and report to defense ministers in July.