SKOLKOVO – President Dmitry Medvedev warned the West on May 18 that it would
face a new Cold War if it failed to address Russia’s concerns over a
proposed missile defense shield for Europe.
Medvedev told reporters that the U.S. decision to push ahead with
construction of the missile defense system despite Russia’s objections will
force Moscow “to take retaliatory measures – something that we would very
much rather not do.”
“We would then be talking about developing the offensive potential of our
nuclear capabilities. This would be a very bad scenario.”
The Russian leader also reaffirmed any earlier threat to pull out of the new
START disarmament agreement that entered into force this year if the missile
shield is deployed and operated without the Kremlin’s input.
“This would be a very bad scenario. It would be a scenario that throws us
back into the Cold War era.”
Moscow has been fighting NATO plans to deploy a system the West sees as a
means of protection from nations such as Iran but Russia believes could
potentially be deployed against its own defenses.
The Kremlin’s biggest fear is that the shield could one day be turned around
and instead of shooting down incoming missiles be used to attack Russian
soil.
On May 18, Medvedev demanded a legally-binding assurance from the United
States that this will never happen – a safeguard that Moscow says Washington
is refusing to give.
NATO has thus far invited Russia to voice its concerns in formal meetings
but refused to provide Moscow with a formal role in the shield’s operation
that it seeks.
“We would like to see missile defense develop under clear rules,” Medvedev
said in the first broad-ranging press conference of his three-year
presidency.
Medvedev said he understood the United States’ argument that the shield was
not aimed at Russia but rather nations such as Iran.
But he argued that such nations do not yet have the capacity to launch
nuclear weapons at the West.
“That means it is aimed against us,” said Medvedev.
“And if not, invite us to cooperate” in the shield’s deployment and
operation, the Russian leader said.
