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U.S. missile shield a threat to global security: Russia

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Russia has reiterated its opposition to the United States' plan to build a missile defence shield in Europe.

President Vladimir Putin voiced Russian concerns over the proposed deployment of missile interceptors and a radar in Eastern Europe at a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates in Moscow on Monday.

Mr. Gates arrived in Moscow on Monday in an effort to woo Russia with an offer of cooperation.

"We invite Russia to join our defensive endeavour as a partner," Mr. Gates said after talks with his Russian counterpart.

However, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov denounced the U.S. missile shield as a threat to global security.

"We believe the strategic missile defence system is a serious destabilising factor that can significantly impact on regional and global security," Mr. Serdyukov told Mr. Gates at their meeting on Monday.

"I'd like to emphasise that the Russian position on this issue has not changed," he said.

Mr. Putin had harshly criticised the proposed deployment of U.S. missile interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic in a hard-hitting speech in Munich, Germany, two months ago.

Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who oversees the defence sector, said last week that he saw "no grounds to talk about potential cooperation" with the U.S. on missile defence.

Moscow says the U.S. rejected an earlier Russian offer to build a joint missile defence system and is deploying its own missile shield directed against Russia.

Russia and the U.S. will continue to discuss the issue at expert-level consultations, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said after Mr. Gates' meeting with Mr. Putin.

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