If US Listened to Russia, Both Could Work on Single Missile Defense System

The US is in the process of creating a missile defense system in Europe, much to Russia's concern; but history could have taken a different course, if Washington did not back out of an agreement with Moscow, retired major general Vladimir Dvorkin told the Izvestiya newspaper.

The analyst recalled the 2002 joint declaration on the strategic relationship between the two countries that reaffirmed that they no longer considered one another an enemy or a strategic threat. Among other things, Moscow and Washington agreed to cooperate on creating a missile defense mechanism.

"The Americans did not adhere to the declaration and began to deploy the anti-ballistic missile defense system in Europe. They merely informed Russia of this decision," the lead researcher at Moscow-based the Institute of Economic and International Relations explained.

Things did not go as planned.

"The partnership did not work out, although there was an opportunity to develop the missile defense system together. It would have been a more efficient approach that would have cost less," Dvorkin observed.

The analyst also maintains that the sea- and land-based Aegis components do not pose a threat to Russian missiles. But many others disagree, pointing to the fact that Washington does not want to discuss its military activities in Europe.

"We have repeatedly expressed our concerns, offered cooperation, proposed working with our American partners – but everything has, in fact, been rejected. What they are suggesting is not joint work, but talks on a given topic. No specific proposals; everything is done unilaterally, without taking into account our concerns," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

US Navy flag bearers, backdropped by the radar building of a missile defense base, during an opening ceremony attended by U.S., NATO and Romanian officials at a base in Deveselu, Southern Romania, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Russia has expressed concerns that the Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems in Poland and Romania could be converted to station offensive Tomahawk cruise missiles.

© AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda

Earlier this week, the Aegis Ashore base in Romania became operation. The next phase of the US missile defense initiative for Europe will see a base built in Poland. Construction has already begun.