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Prior to the NATO summit in Chicago and the International Conference on Missile Defense in Moscow it was stated for the thousandth time that « NATO bears no threat for Russia». This time this statement that has been repeated as often as the Lord's Prayer was made by Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. However, during the conference in Moscow there will be proof of the opposite. Specifically, it will become obvious that the European Missile Defense system to be deployed is a direct threat to Russia's nuclear forces, says Lieutenant General Eugeniy Buzhinsky, an expert in security issues at the Center for Political Studies.
«We've been told about a defense system against Iranian threat, as well as against the so called “pariah states”. All this is quite doubtful. Why spend hundreds of billions of dollars just to intercept 3-4 Iranian missiles? And why would Iran attack Europe when 70% of its foreign trade is with the EU?»
They are afraid of North Korea? But it simply has not got the missiles of long enough range to cover Western Europe! And it is half a century away from intercontinental missiles, believes the expert. However, the USA has been stubbornly pushing its four-stage plan of deploying interceptors and radars in Poland, the Baltic sea basin, Romania and Turkey, as well as «Aegis» combat systems on its destroyer ships. Russia's Ministry of Defense has conducted computer simulation tests, the results of which will be presented during the conference in Moscow. The results show that in the long run, when the speed of the missile defense systems exceeds 5,000 km per second, there will be a threat to the Russian nuclear forces of nuclear deterrence. Our missiles would be within reach of the missile defense systems located in Poland and in the Baltics.
Is this why NATO refuses to give legally binding guarantees that this «nuclear umbrella» deployed in Europe will not be directed against Russia? Eugeniy Buzhinsky says:
«They took a very convenient, and as experts believe, logical stand. They say that the Cold War is over, and we are no longer enemies, just trust us, this is not against you... But when in Lisbon President Medvedev suggested a sectional missile defense system as a version of a joint system, we got a negative response. All our initiatives on fundamental issues we got a «no» response. Russia is simply forced to take steps in response!»
The expert reminded us of the decision to set up in Russia a space defense system with elements of missile defense. Early warning radars are being deployed, new radar systems «Voronezh» are set up in Armavir and near St. Petersburg, old radars are upgraded, new S-400 air-defense systems are being adopted, S-500 systems are being developed. It is possible that «Iskander» systems will be deployed in Kaliningrad region. These countermeasures are the result of the talks on the European missile defense that are in deadlock. The general offers a solution:
«The only compromise solution that appears to be realistic would be political obligations. They can be defined in a declaration similar to the Rome Declaration that would be likewise signed by the heads of states and governments of Russia and NATO countries. The phrase about the missile defense system «not being directed against Russia» does not have to be in that declaration. But there have to be limitations put on the speed, missile interception range and the place of dislocation of the missile defense systems. It would simply indicate cooperation in setting up the European missile defense. But NATO has to also come forth to meet half way. Specifically, they need to declare that they will not deploy missile defense systems along our borders in the Baltic sea and in Poland, in the most sensitive region for Russia.»
Representatives of 49 countries, as well as NATO top officials, Russian Ministry of Defense representatives and 40 most prominent world security experts are planning to attend the Moscow conference scheduled for May 3-4. Lieutenant General Eugeniy Buzhinsky will be one of the participants.
