Putin threatens new arms race
Friday, 08 Feb 2008 14:29
Vladimir Putin claimed Russia would respond to the actions of the US and Nato
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has criticised the US and Nato over military expansion towards Russia's borders and claimed Moscow will respond with modernisation of its military and weapons.
Mr Putin said in a speech today that the US was ignoring Russia's security concerns over plans to build missile defence sites in Poland and the Czech Republic as well as new military bases in Romania and Bulgaria.
"There has been no constructive response to our well-founded concerns," the president said.
"We are being forced to take retaliatory steps. Russia has and always will have a response to these new challenges."
He accused Washington of refusing to cooperate with Russia over concerns about the military sites.
The US had used consultations with Moscow as "merely an information and diplomatic cover for implementing their plans," Mr Putin alleged.
Plans for ten missile interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic would threaten Russia's security, the Kremlin has claimed.
It has also dismissed the claims by the US that the sites were required to defend against any potential missile attack by
Iran.