Attempts by the United States to present the development of the global missile defense system as a defensive project are nothing more than a “smokescreen”. This opinion was expressed on Monday, May 3, by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
“By increasing its anti-missile capabilities, the United States, first of all, seeks to gain a decisive advantage by creating conditions for delivering a first strike to the enemy, protecting itself from retaliatory actions,” Zakharova said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
She pointed out that such actions by Washington lead to serious consequences in the security sphere and upset the strategic balance of power in the world.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman recalled that Russia has repeatedly reminded the American side of the danger associated with the unrestricted development of the US global missile defense system, but no reaction followed.
In addition, the American side rejected the possibility of introducing any restrictions on its anti-missile activities and is deliberately increasing it using new financial resources, Zakharova noted.
In late April, Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon plans to allocate nearly $ 18 billion to develop, manufacture and service missile interceptors from North Korea or Iran. The construction of 31 interceptors is planned, including ten for testing.
On April 27, the head of the US Strategic Command, Admiral Charles Richards, stated that the United States is significantly inferior to Russia and China in the field of strategic weapons. In this regard, he noted the need for a more modern and effective weapons system.
Richards then clarified that the United States instructed Northrop Grumman to develop a new missile complex, for which $ 13 billion was allocated.