Post by Frank on Jun 17, 2015 10:07:32 GMT 10
Another interesting turn in the current Russian/US/world saga.
Between the Middle East, China, Russia, the US and the mess that is Africa, the world isn't in the most peaceful of states at the moment
www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-17/russia-beefing-up-nuclear-arsenal-with-new-missiles-putin/6551422
Russia will add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year, president Vladimir Putin says.
Mr Putin made the announcement a day after Russian officials denounced a US plan to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border as the most aggressive US act since the Cold War.
"More than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles able to overcome even the most technically advanced anti-missile defence systems will be added to the make-up of the nuclear arsenal this year," Mr Putin, flanked by army officers, said in a speech to a military and arms fair.
Later, after a meeting with Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, Mr Putin said Russia would be forced to aim its armed forces at any countries which might threaten it.
It's NATO that is coming to our borders and not us moving somewhere.
Russian president Vladimir Putin
"If someone puts some of our territories under threat, that means we will have to direct our armed forces and modern strike power at those territories, from where the threat emanates," he said.
"It's NATO that is coming to our borders and not us moving somewhere."
NATO head Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia's plan to deploy 40 new nuclear ballistic missiles was part of a dangerous pattern of behaviour by Moscow.
"This nuclear sabre-rattling by Russia is unjustified, destabilising and it is dangerous," Mr Stoltenberg said after a meeting with European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.
"I think the statement ... is just confirming the pattern and behaviour of Russia over quite a period of time."
US secretary of state John Kerry also expressed concern over Mr Putin's missile announcement.
"Nobody should hear that kind of announcement from the leader of a powerful country and not be concerned about what the implications are," he said.
Tensions are high between Russia and the West over the crisis in Ukraine and Washington and Moscow have disagreements on a range of other issues.
Russian officials have warned that Moscow will retaliate if the United States carries out the plan to store heavy military equipment in eastern Europe, including in the Baltic states that were once part of the Soviet Union.
"The feeling is that our colleagues from NATO countries are pushing us into an arms race," RIA news agency quoted Russian deputy defence minister Anatoly Antonov as saying on the sidelines of the arms fair.