Global Security Newswire

The Obama administration's ambassador to Russia today urged the Kremlin to join with the United States in building a worldwide missile defense system, the Xinhua News Agency reported (see GSN, June 25).

"We will continue this dialogue so that Russia and us can work together on the creation of a global missile defense system," U.S. envoy John Beyrle was reported by RIA Novosti to have told a Moscow audience.

The Obama administration is seeking Russian support for its plan to build a European missile shield. The defense system would involve the phased deployment of land- and sea -based Standard Missile 3 interceptors around the continent as a hedge against missiles fired from nations such as Iran.

The Obama plan replaces a Bush administration initiative to deploy 10 long-range missile interceptors in Poland and a large radar installation in the Czech Republic. Moscow vehemently opposed that plan and has remained skeptical of its successor.

Despite repeated assurances to the contrary from Obama officials, Moscow has questioned whether U.S. missile defense plans would negatively impact the Russian nuclear deterrent (Xinhua News Agency/Crienglish.com, June 29).