U.S. missile defense deployment in Europe could drag Russia into a new arms race, a senior Russian air defense commander said Friday, March 16.

“This is a very urgent and politically important issue, and could drag us into a new arms race,” Colonel-General Yury Solovyov, commander of the Air Defense Forces Special Command told reporters.

The United States plans to deploy its anti-missile systems in the Czech Republic and in Poland by 2011-2012, saying the shield is needed to counter possible attacks from Iran. But Russia objects to the plans, treating them as a security threat.

Solovyov said the deployment will not be a threat to Russia, but “could be bad for Russia because our potential adversaries will constantly monitor Russia’s territory.”

Solovyov also said the first air defense regiment equipped with a new air defense system will be put on combat duty by June 1.

Popularity: 1% [?]