Russia condemns US move to put missiles in Romania
The Kremlin said it was taken aback by news that Romania's
top military body had agreed to host US SM-3 interceptor missiles and other
military infrastructure in response to an alleged missile threat from Iran.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said he had demanded an "exhaustive
explanation" from Washington, citing a treaty that would prevent US ships
delivering the necessary equipment via the Black Sea.
"How can we stay calm when alien military infrastructure,
US military infrastructure, has come to the Black Sea area?" Dmitry Rogozin,
Russia's ambassador to Nato, told Russian state TV separately.
Mr Obama last year dropped a Bush-era plan to install a
missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland. Russia at the time
hailed that decision as "brave", viewing it as a diplomatic victory. But a few
months later, Kremlin officials say they are deeply disappointed that Washington
did not consult Moscow about the Romanian missiles. They were similarly
nonplussed last month when the US confirmed it was planning to place Patriot
missiles in Poland close to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
The disagreement comes as Russian and US negotiators
finalise a pact that will make deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals.
Sergey Ivanov, Russia's deputy prime minister, warned the
Romanian move would complicate those talks. "It is impossible to talk seriously
about a reduction of nuclear capabilities when a nuclear power is working to
deploy defensive systems against nuclear warheads possessed by other countries,"
he said.
Military experts warned the interceptor missiles could be
upgraded to pose a threat to the Kremlin's intercontinental nuclear missiles.
Colonel Igor Korotchenko, editor of Russia's National Defence magazine, urged
the Kremlin to retaliate. "Russia should warn Romania that if elements of a US
missile shield are sited in the country they will be viewed as legitimate
targets for Russian missile attack."
On Sunday the head of Nato said the alliance should develop
closer ties with China, India, Pakistan and Russia and become the forum for
consultation on global security.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato secretary-general, said: "What
would be the harm if countries such as China, India, Pakistan and others were to
develop closer ties with Nato? I think, in fact, there would only be a benefit,
in terms of trust, confidence and co-operation ... Nato can be the place where
views, concerns and best practices on security are shared by Nato's global
partners."
But Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Russian Duma's
International Affairs Committee, reacted with scepticism, saying Nato first had
to think globally, and complained that Russia had not been involved in the
process