BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/08/2008

Russia ready to respond to US missile defense shield

Russia is planning to install in Poland's neighboring countries missile systems and strategic bombers if Warsaw agrees to host US missile defense shield on its ground

Russia is planning to install in Poland's neighboring countries missile systems and strategic bombers if Warsaw agrees to host US missile defense shield, and as a response to the already signed agreement with the Czech Republic.

The Iskander missile system and strategic bombers could be stationed in Kaliningrad and Belarus, according Russia's ambassador to Minsk Alexander Surikov. The Russian military has not stationed any hardware on the border of what is now the EU since the end of the Cold War.

"When Poland signs the agreement with the American side about hosting elements of the missile defense system, then we can discuss some additional aspects of military-technical cooperation with Belarus," said Surikov.

The ambassador's threat further signals a diplomatic crisis between Russia and the US. Moscow believes that Washington's plans are aimed at weakening nuclear capabilities of Russia, while the US insists the purpose is to counter possible attacks from rouge states such as Iran.

Analysts said that with the Iskander missiles range of up to 310 miles, Russia would be able to strike both at the radar, to be located in CzechRepublic, and missile interceptors, to be located in Poland if the deal is signed, if it builds a base in Belarus.

Sources: Telegraph, Kommersant, Rzeczpospolita

Source:

http://www.wbj.pl/article-42109-russia-ready-to-respond-to-us-missile-defense-shield.html?typ=wbj

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