Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary in Connection with Agreement to Deploy Elements of US Strategic Missile Defense System in Poland
A US-Polish agreement was signed in Warsaw on August 20 to place a US missile defense base in Poland. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had given a principled assessment of such a deal on August 15 at a joint press conference with FRG Chancellor Angela Merkel. He said that deploying elements of a US strategic missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland clearly demonstrates the anti-Russian tilt of the global missile defense system of the United States.
Contrary to Russia's opinion and the real development of the military-political situation in Europe, the US strategic potential is persistently being brought closer to our borders. The radar tracking station in the Czech Republic will be able to scan practically the entire European part of our country, and the long-range interceptor missiles to be deployed in Poland do not have any target other than Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles, nor will in the foreseeable future.
To us it is obvious, which the American leadership does not deny, that the so called US third GMD site in Europe will be expanded and modernized. In this case Russia will be forced to respond, not only via diplomatic demarches.
By and large US attempts to change the strategic balance of forces in its favor and prevent the strengthening of stability and predictability in world affairs are receiving an increasingly vivid and concrete expression.
The third GMD site is but one of the tools in an exceptionally dangerous string of US military projects envisaging unilateral development of a global missile defense system, exit from restrictions in the strategic offensive arms field, the realization of a global lightning strike doctrine and development of projects for placing strike weapons in space.
The Warsaw deal also has a new element – an additional base of US Patriot air defense missile systems on Polish territory. By definition, such a task force can have no bearing on repulsing a hypothetical Iranian threat and then Teheran too, with which the American side is so intrusively threatening Europeans, not only lacks any motivation, but also in the years ahead will simply have no technological capability to threaten a missile strike against Europe, let alone the US itself.
We were being given assurances for a long time that the US antimissile preparations were not directed against Russia, and it was being promised to us to agree on "transparency and trust-building measures" which could ease Russia's concerns. That's exactly how US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented matters at her recent press conference in Tbilisi. Reality, however, is such that the American side is not going to assume any obligations that would have a real practical meaning for us. And the previous offers on that score are being taken back.
Even in such a complicated situation we are not going to abandon dialogue and are ready to continue to work on this theme with the parties concerned. But there can be no question of any "simple confidence" anymore. Real actions and legally confirmed interstate agreements will be taken into consideration, not deceptive declarations of intents or vague promises.
We are convinced that enhancing the security of some countries by deliberately prejudicing the security of others won't work. Strategic stability and an international security system can be built only on a mutual and equal basis.
It should be particularly emphasized that deploying the third GMD site in Europe with a real anti-Russian potential will by no means increase the continent's security. Such actions engender distrust, and give a push to an arms race on the continent and beyond. But that is not Russia's choice.
And the last point. The timing of the signing of the American-Polish agreement, affecting the security of many European states, was not accidental. We have taken notice of the remarks of Polish officials that the events in the Caucasus had hastened Poland's decision to go ahead with the deal. In shaping our attitude towards US antimissile plans in Europe, we, naturally, cannot fail to consider also the fact that, over recent years while pumping Georgia up with arms Washington kept assuring us that those steps were not directed against Russia. The real worth of such assurances becomes even more obvious now when thousands of people in South Ossetia, including Russian peacekeepers, have been killed or injured in South Ossetia because of the reckless actions of the Georgian leadership.
August 20, 2008
