Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Russia Advances Ballistic Missiles Movement in Europe

By Douglas V. Gibbs

In a move that is almost in concert with the announcement of a new EU army, Russia is deploying short-range ballistic missiles to its western European enclave, Kaliningrad, a region between the Nato states of Poland and Lithuania.  Russia states the move is in retaliation for a military build-up by the alliance in eastern Europe.

A Pentagon official said: “Such a deployment . . . would mark an unfortunate and destabilizing action. Nato’s missile defence system, for which this action by Russia is purportedly a response, is not oriented toward Russia. Like all other US and Nato deployments in eastern Europe, this system is purely defensive and intended to enhance collective security.”

Experts said that Russia’s actions represented a challenge to Mr Trump, whose reaction could be hard to predict. “It is a dangerous moment,” Igor Sutyagin, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said.

Turkey is also currently in talks to buy an missile defense system from Russia.  The deal may be yet another sign of alliance between Moscow and members of the Muslim community of nations.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

No comments: