Russia will deploy missiles in response to U.S. missile defense plans.
Loading...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, announced on Wednesday that Russia will deploy missiles in territory, close Poland in response to U.S. missile defense plans.
Medvedev blamed the U.S. for the war in Georgia and the global financial crisis and also said he hoped Barack Obama would act to improve relations with Russia but he did not offer congratulations to the newly elected president.
He also mentioned increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from the current four, a major constitutional change, that would increase the power of the head of state further, and could deepen the Western concern about democracy in Russia.
The Iskander missiles will be deployed to Russia's Kaliningrad region, which lies between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, however there was no mention of how many would be used or whether they would be fitted with Nuclear war heads. Equipment to electronically hamper the operation of prospective U.S. missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic will also be deployed.
The President commented that, "From what we have seen in recent years, the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO, we have gotten the clear impression that they are testing our strength".
Speaking just hours after, Barack Obama was newly elected as the US president, Medvedev said he hoped the incoming administration will take steps to improve greatly damaged US ties with Russia. He suggested it is up to the US, not the Kremlin, to seek to improve relations.