Russian Defense Ministry sees U.S. global missile defense project as threat to Asia Pacific rgn
COLOMBO (Sri Lanka). Nov 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The global missile defense project of the United States creates a serious threat to Asia Pacific countries, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
"By using the thesis of a mounting North Korean nuclear missile threat, Washington has been actively involving regional countries in its plans for global missile defense deployment," Antonov said in Colombo, speaking at the first conference of the Dialogue of Defense Ministers of South and Southeast Asian nations.
The military potential created by Washington "significantly exceeds the level required to neutralize existent and potential missile threats," he indicated.
"In fact, the U.S. global missile defense aims to undermine regional and international security, and presents a serious threat to the Asia Pacific region," Antonov emphasized.
He said the U.S. policy for the region was a source of concern. "Washington has been increasing the military presence in the Asia Pacific region with nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and strategic bombers under far-fetched pretexts and attempting to subordinate regional countries to the goals of its foreign policy. It would suffice to recall the unprecedented pressure on Asia Pacific governments aimed at their joining in the unlawful anti-Russian sanctions," Antonov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in one of his latest speeches that the U.S. interference in internal affairs of other states would neither bring peace nor help democracy flourish.
"Think about it: two-thirds of all military conflicts in the past decades were unleashed by the United States. Remember how [conflicts] started in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria," the deputy defense minister said.