NATO Seeks Missile Defense Cooperation With Russia
Last December, sources reported that NATO wanted to collaborate with Russia on missile defense, a year after criticizing the former Soviet Union’s invasion of Georgia. Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s NATO envoy, said he hoped renewed ties would pave the way for a new Euro-Atlantic security treaty in the joint NATO-Russia Council.
Statement from NATO foreign ministers: “We continue to support increased cooperation between NATO and Russia on missile defense, including maximum transparency and reciprocal confidence-building measures. We reaffirm the alliance’s readiness to explore the potential for linking the United States, NATO and Russian missile defense systems at an appropriate time.”
The Voice of Russia (part of Voice of America) reports that NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen seeks a missile defense alliance with Russia that would create “a common security umbrella.” Former president Vladimir Putin wants his country, the U.S., and the U.N. to assess missile threats jointly. It’s no secret that Russia seeks more information about U.S. missile defense plans in Central Europe and may be using NATO’s desire for an alliance (and tougher sanctions against Iran) as a pawn in the game. An excerpt:
“The Kremlin has repeatedly warned the White House against the creation of a missile defense system that could damage the two countries’ strategic balance of power. More clarification is also needed concerning Washington’s plans to deploy airborne sensors and seaborne interceptors in Europe, says State Duma Deputy Andrey Kokoshin. In a recent interview with Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency, he maintained that both sides are unlikely to agree on the joint missile system in the foreseeable future.”
