Makarov: US anti-missile shield targets Russia

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118340§ionid=351020602


Nikolai Makarov, the chief of Russia's general staff, brushes aside Washington's statements of reassurance regarding US plans to deploy an anti-missile shield in Europe, saying the system is aimed at targeting Russia.

"The American anti-missile shield targets Russia, despite the official statements from Washington," Makarov said on Tuesday.

According to the Russian official, the development and the implementation of the defense system are actions that threaten Russia.

“It is natural that we view this very negatively, because this to some extent can weaken our missile capability,” he said.

Makarov further pointed out that the US anti-missile system undermines Russia's strategic plans irrespective of what American officials declared.

Despite efforts to improve relations that suffered a post-Cold War low during the Bush administration, Moscow and Washington failed to renew the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) before it expired on December 5, 2009.

Washington's new plan for the defense system's deployment, originally introduced by George W. Bush, has changed the location of the system, but has done little to ease Russia's concerns that the system is a threat to the country.