Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States plan was initially explained as targeting a possible missile threat from Iran.
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“Our system can not undermine or weaken Russia’s strategic deterrent, and we can not shoot down their intercontinental ballistic missiles with interceptors neither from the site here, in Romania, or the site we are building in Poland”, he said.
Stephens said the missile interceptor base is not intended against Russian Federation nor to its military bases.
Russia’s foreign ministry warned on Wednesday that the system violated a treaty on nuclear forces.
Although, Washington insists that its European missile shield is not meant to counter Russia, Moscow seems to be unconvinced by the assurance.
In a news conference here today that included U.S. Ambassador to NATO Douglas E. Lute, Rose said the ceremony in Deveselu marks that site’s operational certification.
“Iran’s systems can reach into parts of Europe, including Romania”, Rose said, before heading to the site to join U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 0900 GMT.
In April 2009, US President Barack Obama claimed that if the alleged Iranian nuclear threat was eliminated, there would be no grounds for the United States to continue with the construction of its missile defense system in Europe.
“We still view the destructive actions of the United States and its allies in the area of missile defense as a direct threat to global and regional security”, Zakharova said.
Both sites will be part of a system dubbed the European Phased Adaptive Approach, nomenclature indicating that its capabilities will grow as different elements become operational.
The short flight time of these missiles diminished to mere minutes the window Soviet leaders would have had after a warning to decide whether to launch a second strike, raising the risks of mishaps.
The issue remains sensitive because the United States does not want to give the impression it would be able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles that were carrying nuclear warheads, which is what Russia fears.
Cited by Interfax, he also condemned “anti-missile defence systems deployed in the region, always ready for combat”, and “military infrastructures moving closer to Russia’s borders”. “Moreover, missile technology is becoming more sophisticated, lethal and accurate, and increasing in range”, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation spokeswoman Carmen Romero told the Associated Press.
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But she added, “Despite an incredible amount of consultations with Russia, the Russians never bought the argument that the system was not directed at them”.
