Agence France-Presse, The head of Russian strategic missile forces warned Oct. 26 that Moscow could restart at short notice production of short- and medium-range missiles, amid fears of a renewed arms race.
“If a political decision is taken on creating such a class of missiles, obviously Russia will build them quickly. We have everything needed to do this,” said Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, according to Interfax.
The warning came amid mounting tensions with the U.S. over Washington’s plans to place missile defense facilities in two countries that were ruled from Moscow in Soviet times, the Czech Republic and Poland.
President Vladimir Putin has threatened to withdraw from a Cold War-era arms treaty banning short- and medium-range nuclear weapons, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty.
Solovtsov stressed Oct. 26 that Russia remained within the INF treaty.
“We act strictly in accordance with it,” he said, adding that “when it comes to any class of missile, it is expedient to put the question: Are they needed for Russia’s security?”
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Oct. 25 that Moscow remained concerned about Washington’s missile defense plans despite new proposals by the U.S. aimed at easing Russian concerns.
The U.S. wants to place an early warning radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptors in Poland as part of an expanded missile defense system it says is not directed against Russia.
Washington insists the facilities are needed to protect against “rogue states,” notably Iran, and would be useless against Russia’s vast arsenal.
The INF treaty, signed by the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1987, hastened the end of the Cold War.
The current standoff has prompted warnings of a new arms race between the U.S. and an emboldened Russia.
