Russia Will Act to Neutralise US Missile Shield Threat, Says Putin

The US ballistic missile defence in Europe, is a step to a new arms race, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Reuters)

• A ballistic missile defence shield which the United States has activated in Europe, is a step to a new arms race, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. Putin vowed to adjust budget spending to neutralise “emerging threats” to Russia.
• The United States switched on the $800 million missile shield at a Soviet-era base in Romania on Thursday, saying it was a defence against missiles from Iran.
  
• Frank Rose, deputy US Assistant Secretary of State for arms control, warned at the time that Iran’s ballistic missiles could hit parts of Europe. Putin, however, said the prospect of a nuclear threat was being used by Washington as an excuse to develop its missile shield in Europe.
  

• The full defensive umbrella, when complete in 2018 after further development in Poland, will stretch from Greenland to the Azores.

(with input from Reuters).