Russia has to respond proportionately to growing U.S. missile defense capability - General Staff
GENEVA. March 28 (Interfax) - Russia is taking countermeasures against development of the U.S. missile defense network, deputy chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir said.
"Russia has to take proportionate countermeasures in order to prevent an imbalance of strategic armament forces and minimize possible damage to national security caused by the ongoing buildup of U.S. missile defense capability," Poznikhir said at a disarmament conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
"This will not make the world a safer place," Poznikhir said.
The United States has been deploying a strategic network designed to destroy Russian and Chinese ballistic missiles and to upset the balance of deterrence forces under the pretext of averting the North Korean and Iranian missile threats, the general said.
"This is why we call for equal and constructive dialogue on the missile defense issue, focused on finding solutions with due account of interests of all sides," he said.
