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Putin: Russia Can Deal with US NMD Program Independently
Russia plans no joint actions with other countries in response to a possible US exit from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, as Russia can do independently, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
Theoretically, such joint actions are possible, for example with China. But "Russia has enough of its own means" to deal with a possible withdrawal of the United States from the 1972 ABM treaty, Putin told a news conference at the Kremlin.
"We are ready for any course of events" and "have worked out good countermeasures against any developments in the U.S. program of creating a national missile defense system," he stressed.
Russia will strive for developing "such an army, which will be absolutely defense capable, efficient and compact but not costly," he said, adding that Russia has a well-planned program of modernizing the national armed forces.
On the NATO expansion, Putin said there is no political or military reasons now for NATO eastward enlargement as threats have changed and Russia is no longer a menace to anyone.
NATO expansion "does not meet present-day realities, is not necessitated by any political or military reason", he said.
The president believes the best option for creating a single security space in Europe is to disband NATO and create a new security organization that would incorporate Russia.
Another option is to admit Russia into the North Atlantic alliance, Putin said, but Russia is not eager to have that option fulfilled.
NATO expansion moves European division lines toward Russia and does not promote a single security and defense space. "Thus, we shall have a different level security system in Europe and will continue to mistrust each other. Russia needs the rest of the civilized world and Europe, in particular, as well as Europe needs Russia," he said.
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