NATO-Russia Tensions

Threat to ‘European Security Architecture’

| by Mathews George Chunakara

( May 29, 2012, Geneva, Sri Lanka Guardian) Russia launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) last week; a few days after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) announced its capability for an interim ballistic missile defence capability in Europe. The ICBM launched by Russia from the Plesetsk facility in the north-western part of the country adds more tensions and gives a clear signal to the U.S and its NATO allies over the deployment of a missile shield in Europe. A Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Vadim Koval stated, “Russia’s ICBM is intended to strengthen the capabilities of Strategic Missile Forces, including its higher capacity for overcoming anti-missile defences.”

About ten days before the NATO summit in Chicago, the United States expressed its concern over a billion dollar arms sales to Russia by France, Germany and Italy, which was unprecedented in NATO members’ history.

Despite several discussions, NATO and Russia have failed to reach an agreement on deployment of missile defence systems in Europe. Although the two sides have agreed to keep on talking, they could not reach any amicable settlement. The Russians had warned NATO that time was running out, but finally NATO announced its ballistic missile capability in Europe and Russia went ahead with the launching of its ICBM. The argument that NATO’s plan to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system in Europe to destroy any potential Iranian nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at Europe has not been acceptable to Russia. The concern of Russian leaders has been that the deployment of this anti-missile system is mainly aimed at Russia’s nuclear arsenals, which will ultimately make their own defences vulnerable. Russia is concerned about the destabilizing effects of the proposed new missile defence system, as such it has been insisting for guarantees that the NATO plans are not aimed at limiting Russian nuclear capability. Russia was also seeking joint control over use of the system. Russian military leaders also announced that they would consider pre-emptively destroying the European missile defence system if it were deployed, because it would threaten Russia’s nuclear deterrent. Vladimir Chizov, permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the EU stated that, “We are not seeking political or military gains on this issue. We think it’s important to maintain the balance and stability. That’s why we openly say: if you do this, then we would have to do that. If you go further, then we would do more.” But, NATO’s response that the project is purely defensive and its missile defence system is not directed against Russia was not a convincing argument for Russia.

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