The deployment of US missile defense systems in Romania and Poland is prohibited under the Intermediate Treaty of Nuclear Forces (INF), the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates in its annual report, sputniknews.com reports, according to Agerpres.
The INF treaty signed by the US and the USSR in 1987 requires both countries to eliminate all ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear and conventional radius from 500 to 5500 km which can be launched from the ground, says the source.
'We are deeply concerned by the deployment of a missile defense system in a base in Romania, and in a future base in Poland, which is forbidden under the Treaty for the elimination of intermediate and short-range missiles”, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes in his annual report titled “Russia’s foreign policy activity in 2015' published on its website. This agreement is also breached by the Pentagon use of false targets and overhead drones, Russian diplomacy added.
Ministry reiterates that Moscow will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the country, given that the deployment of US missile defense systems in Europe 'is without a doubt intended to discourage Russia'.
Over the past two years, NATO has increased the number of military exercises near the borders of Russia, and Washington has increased funding for NATO’s reinsurance initiative to support the deployment of 5,000 troops in Eastern Europe. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the deployment of NATO troops and equipment at Russia's borders is a provocative act, contrary to previous agreements and it destabilizes the region, sputniknews.com notes.