West pushing Russia into new arms race, general says
The chief of staff of the Russian armed forces says Russia is being pushed into a new arms race by the planned deployment of a NATO missile-defense system in Europe, Radio Liberty reported.
Speaking at a meeting with foreign military attaches, General Nikolai Makarov warned of a possible "sharp deterioration" of relations.
"The very idea of creating a missile-defense system can definitely bring about a sharp deterioration in our relations," Makarov said.
He said that Russia had begun the deployment of new weapons systems in its western exclave of Kaliningrad so that, once a NATO missile shield was operational, the nuclear deterrent between the two sides remained balanced.
Washington says the planned missile shield is meant to prevent a possible attack from countries such as Iran, but Russia fears it will make its nuclear arsenal ineffective.
NATO has rejected Russia's demand to jointly build a missile-defense system.
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