This is a good sign that one of the US high-ranking diplomats says that Washington is ready to cooperate with Russia on such sensitive issue. But what is causing doubts is the announcement about analysis of potential missile risks and creation of anti-missile defense system going hand in hand. If there is no threat, what’s the use of anti-missiles? Besides, certain arms are needed to repel real threats. Moreover, such kind of cooperation requires transparency and logic from both sides.
Russia is concerned over the recent deployment of the Patriot system in Poland. Moscow has criticized the move and wondered why Washington chose the area just 60 km away from the Russian border. The US says its anti-missile shield in Europe is intended to protect against threats from Iran, but there is no need explaining that the Patriot system has nothing to do with it. Ellen Tauscher said the Patriot system aims to intercept surface-to-surface missiles but, as we know, there are no objects of military infrastructure in the area that should be protected from anyone.
It is strange that the US has proceeded with the move despite strong objections from Russia and after the signing of the new strategic arms reduction treaty. This all reminds of Bush`s policy, and, of course, does not increase trust between the two countries. Of course, several batteries of Patriot-type missiles are currently posing no threat to Russia but we know that the US also plans to deploy SM-3 anti-ballistic missiles, and this will bring serious changes to the strategic balance in Europe, challenging Russia to take adequate response measures. Washington says that with Russia or without, it will build a global anti-missile system, and this also cannot but evoke concerns in Moscow.
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