U.S. plans to deploy heavy weapons in Europe unrelated to real threat - Russian SC Deputy Sec Lukyanov
ULAN-UDE. June 24 (Interfax) - U.S. plans to deploy about 250 pieces of heavy weaponry in seven European countries can be explained with unhealthy agitation rather than a real threat, Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Yevgeny Lukyanov has said.
"The unhealthy agitation of certain states, new members of the Atlantic alliance, is not a rationale for the existence of some threats. Rather they should see a doctor," Lukyanov told reporters on Wednesday, answering a question from Interfax.
"I cannot determine the potential of this nomenclature of armaments," Lukyanov said, commenting on U.S. plans to deploy about 250 pieces of heavy weaponry in seven European states.
"Probably, this is more about therapy than about surgery. This therapy is addressed to these beneficiaries - the Baltic countries, Poland and Romania," the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council said.
Lukyanov said that the United States already had plenty of armaments and servicemen stationed in Europe. "How many pieces of heavy armaments are deployed at the Ramstein base in Germany? How many U.S. servicemen are stationed there on a permanent basis?" he asked.
The New York Times reported earlier, quoting U.S. officials, that the Pentagon was considering the possibility of deploying heavy armaments in East European countries as a countermeasure against 'possible Russian aggression' in the region. The newspaper said the United States might bring tanks, infantry combat vehicles and other types of heavy weapons required to arm 5,000 servicemen to bases in the territory of East European NATO allies.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have backed these plans.