by MEMRI
Although U.S. officials stressed that the Aegis Ashore system is defensive and aimed at protecting mainly against threats from Iran, its deployment in Europe prompted strong criticism from Russia.
On May 12, 2016, the NATO's "Aegis
Ashore" ballistic missile defense system became
operational at a U.S. naval support facility
in Deveselu, Romania. The day after, on May 13, the construction of another
ballistic-missile defense site officially started in Redzikowo, Poland. Aegis
Ashore was first announced by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009, as part of
the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) aimed at defending Europe against
ballistic missile threats originating from outside the "Euro-Atlantic
Area."[1] Obama's
EPAA canceled a Bush administration plan to deploy Ground-Based Midcourse (GMD)
missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. An article published
by the Romanian National Institute for Aerospace
Research explained that "unlike the Bush administration, which
focused on ICBMs which Iran did not possess, Obama's plan is more oriented
towards the actual offensive capabilities of Iran and North Korea: short and
medium-range missiles that can reach southern Europe; in addition, the Obama
plan would distribute defenses under NATO, in step-by-step phases covering all of
Europe."[2] The U.S. Missile
Defense Agency reports that Aegis Ashore is a land-based capability of the
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System. Its deckhouse and launchers are
equipped with the Aegis BMD Weapon System and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). Each
Aegis BMD upgrade provides increased capability for countering ballistic
missile threats.[3]
Aegis Ashore site in Romania. (Source: US. Missile Defense Agency)
In a meeting in Bucharest with Romanian officials, U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Defense Policy and Verification Operations Frank A.Rose
said that "combined with the missile-defense-capable ships in the
Mediterranean, the site provides a significant enhancement to the coverage of
NATO from short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats originating from outside
the Euro-Atlantic area." Rose added that "NATO and the United States
have explained this to Russia many times over the years."[4] At the inauguration of the Aegis Ashore ballistic
missile defense site in Romania, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work cited
threats from Iran as a reason why NATO needs the
protection. "As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic
missiles, the United States will work with our allies and partners to defend
NATO and its allies against this threat," Work said.[5] Although U.S. officials stressed that the Aegis Ashore
system is defensive and aimed at protecting mainly against threats from Iran,
its deployment in Europe prompted strong criticism from Russia.
Putin: The Missile
Defense Systems Are Built [In Europe], We Will Be Forced To Consider Ways To
Prevent Any Threat To Russia
On May 13, 2016, in a meeting on
defense industry development, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that
there is no nuclear threat coming from Iran, since the U.S. initiated an
agreement with Iran. with Tehran.
According to Putin, the U.S. is trying to deceive the media, arguing that the Aegis
Ashore site is to defend NATO members from Iran and stressing that it is no
threat to Russia. However, Putin assessed that "the launchers, to be
deployed after the radar stations in Romania and Poland go on stream, can
easily be used for the deployment of intermediate and short range missiles. The
conversion can actually happen in a very short time, and we will not even know
what is happening there. We will not be able to control it. This is an
additional threat to us." He then added that the missile defense systems
in Europe will force Russia to consider ways to prevent any threat. Putin
stressed that the Aegis Ashore site in Romania and the planned site in Poland
are steps towards unleashing a new arms race. However, Putin said that Russia will
not be dragged into this race. "We will go
our own way. We will work very carefully, without exceeding the planned
spending on the rearmament of the army and navy, plans we have had for years,
but we will adjust them in order to curb the threat to Russia's security,"
Putin said.[6]
A Polish soldier stands on crates of explosives next tothe ballistic missile defense system. Banner on crates: "Let's save Poland from Russian aggression!" Russian bear: "Hey, panowie [gentlemen in Polish], I knew that Russophobia reduces the level of intelligence, but did not expect to such an extent!"Source:Vk.com/13studiya, May 15.
Zakharova: [Russia Is] Reaching The
Appropriate Conclusions… Including In Terms Of A Military-Technical Response
On May 12, 2016, in her weekly Russian
foreign policy briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova
stated that the "U.S. Aegis Ashore missile defense system... has been placed
on combat duty." Zakharova added that it was Russia that had suggested the
establishment of "a sector-based missile defense system in Europe together
with NATO that would be able to effectively shield the region from hypothetical
missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic zone and that would not
undermine strategic parity." However, Zakharova stressed that the U.S. and
"its allies" had refused to move in this direction and did not agree to
sign a "legally binding document stating that the new missile defense
system is not directed against Russia."
She then moved on, stressing that
the U.S. had violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
"Aegis Ashore systems being deployed in Romania and Poland feature
launching devices [that are] virtually identical to those being used aboard U.S.
Navy warships for launching missile interceptors and Tomahawk medium-range
cruise missiles," Zakharova said. Hence, Russia sees the deployment of
ground-based launchers as running counter to a key provision of the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Since Russia's concerns continue
to be "ignored," Zakharova added, Moscow is reaching its appropriate
conclusions, "including in terms of a military-technical response."[7]
US' eagle pointing at NATO bases in Europe: "My bases!" Russian bear next to Iskander missile system: "My targets." (Source: Vk.com/13studiya, VitalyPodvitsky. May 13)
Appendix I: Putin's Speech At Meeting On
Defense Industry Development
The following are excerpts of
Putin's speech at the May 13, 2016 meeting with Defense Ministry leadership and
defense industry representatives.[8]
Meeting on defense industry development (Source: Kremlin.ru, May 13, 2016)
"...We are making timely
adjustments in our plans to rebuild the Armed Forces. I think you will agree
with me that the latest events show that the situation is not improving.
Unfortunately, it is even deteriorating – I am referring to the deployment in
Romania of a radar station as an element of the future U.S. missile defense
system.
"We have repeatedly
expressed our concerns, offered cooperation, proposed working with our American
partners – but everything has, in fact, been rejected. What they are suggesting
is not joint work, but talks on a given topic. No specific proposals;
everything is done unilaterally, without taking into account our concerns. This
is unfortunate, as well as the pretext under which it has been done.
"Just a few years ago, our
opponents unanimously said that the missile defense system was necessary for
our Western partners – both in Europe and the United States – to prevent
nuclear and other missile threats posed by Iran. However, where are these
nuclear threats now? There aren't any. The United States initiated the signing
of an agreement with Iran. They did the right thing in fact, and we supported
the US Administration in this regard. However, there is no longer any threat,
while the creation of the missile defense system is still underway.
"Using their capabilities in
the world media, they can disorient some by arguing that there is no threat to Russia
that this is only a defense system, but they cannot confuse anyone present here
today. It is not possible. These are not defense systems. This is part of the US
nuclear strategic potential built in distant locations.
In this case, the distant location
is Eastern Europe. And the people taking such decisions should know that they
used to live in peace, comfort and safety.
"Now, after the missile
defense systems are built there, we will be forced to consider ways to prevent
any threat to the Russian Federation. This is my first point. Second, this is a
flagrant violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty because the
launchers, to be deployed after the radar stations in Romania and Poland go on
stream, can easily be used for the deployment of intermediate and short range
missiles. The conversion can actually happen in a very short time, and we will
not even know what is happening there. We will not be able to control it. This
is an additional threat to us."
Putin:
The Radar Stations In Romania And The Planned Site In Poland Are Steps Towards Unleashing
A New Arms Race
"After the United States
unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Treaty, which was clearly the first step in
the series of attempts to break the global strategic balance of forces, this is
going to be the second blow to the international security system, creating
conditions for the violation of the INF Treaty next. This causes additional
concern, and not only on our part. I do not think any sane person or objective
observer can fail to see this and draw the appropriate conclusions. Along with
the offshore deployment – in the Mediterranean in this case – the Aegis system,
the radar stations in Romania, and then the planned site in Poland – all these
are additional steps towards throwing the international security system off
balance and unleashing a new arms race.
"As we have discussed
already, we are not going to be drawn into this race. We will go our own way.
We will work very carefully, without exceeding the planned spending on the
rearmament of the army and navy, plans we have had for years, but we will
adjust them in order to curb the threat to Russia's security. We have
repeatedly spoken and warned about this, but nobody wants to listen to us,
nobody properly and professionally responds to our requests for cooperation in this
area. So, let us proceed from the realities taking shape in terms of global security.
Of course, we will do our best to ensure and maintain this strategic balance of
forces, which is the most reliable guarantee against large-scale military
conflicts, which cannot be compared to well-known conflicts in hot spots in
terms of their consequences. We cannot and will not tolerate this.
"Let us now consider the
main topic on the agenda – increasing mobilization readiness. We will also work
according to plan in this area. As you know, we have carried out a
comprehensive assessment of the general readiness of defense plants and the
economic sector to fulfill state defense orders. We have calculated how quickly
plants would be able to increase military production, if necessary, and so on.
Based on this data, we should understand how to improve the defense industry. What
points would I like to draw attention to? First, our urgent task is improving
the regulatory, legal and methodological support of the readiness of the defense
industry to increase the range and volume of production. Second, all approaches
to improving the mobilization readiness of Russian defense industry companies
and the economy as a whole must meet modern requirements and be comprehensive. And
finally, all mobilization issues must be resolved through establishing a system
of cooperation and coordination under the leadership of the Military-Industrial
Commission Board..."
Endnotes:
[1] Navy.mil,
May 12, 2016.
[2] Ruxandra-Laura
Bosilca,"The Evolution of Missile Defense Plan from Bush to Obama.
Implications for the National Security of Romania," Incas.ro.
[3]
Mda.mil, undated.
[4]
Defense.gov, May 11, 2016.
[5]
Defense.gov, May 12, 2016.
[6]
Kremlin.ru, May 13, 2016.
[7]
Mid.ru, May 12, 2016.
[8]
Kremlin.ru, May 13, 2016.
MEMRI
Source: http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/9195.htm
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