Russia Angered by U.S. Anti-Missile System Plans for Poland

Russia Angered by U.S. Anti-Missile System Plans for Poland

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Russia is annoyed at Poland’s plans to host a U.S. anti-missile system, a top Moscow general said, adding that such a space umbrella in central Europe would only make sense in a conflict with Russia, Reuters reported.

Warsaw’s new conservative government said in November that it was considering hosting the U.S. anti-missile system, making public what had previously been a subject of discreet talks with Washington.

“Of course (such a system) would be aimed against us,” General Yury Baluyevsky, chief of Russia’s general staff, told Gazeta Wyborcza. “Rockets from other states would never fly to the West over Polish soil.”

“Including central Europe in the U.S. anti-missile system would strengthen it in case of a conflict with Moscow ... I don’t expect a nuclear conflict between Russia and the West.”

The U.S. is investing tens of billions of dollars to develop the Missile Defense Initiative (MDI), which would use rockets to shoot down ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear, chemical or bacteriological warheads.

Poland’s ruling conservatives, who won September’s general elections, regard the U.S. as the guarantor of security for Poland and want the NATO and European Union member to continue its close military co-operation with Washington.

A former Polish foreign minister said Washington had asked Warsaw to remain discreet about the shield plans to soothe Russian concerns that the move would be aimed against Moscow.

The debate about the missile shield coincided with Russia’s decisions to ban the import of most Polish food products after reported irregularities in health standards and certificates. Warsaw officials say the trade row may be politically motivated.

Baluyevsky said Russia had no plans to stop Poland from obtaining a rocket shield, saying: “What can we do? Go ahead build the shield, but think what will later fall on your heads.”

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