The Ukraine crisis has chilled relations between Russia and the West to their frostiest since the Cold War. One long-standing issue between the two sides – something that had been a source of tension even before the annexation of Crimea – is NATO’s planned ballistic missile defence shield. Although NATO has long affirmed that the missile defence system (which includes radar stations and interceptor missiles in Eastern Europe) will be targeted primarily against threats from the Middle East, plans are still going ahead despite, for example, recent progress in the Iran nuclear talks.
On the other hand, Russia has also been developing its own ballistic missile defence systems, including the S-400 and S-500, and has beefed up the anti-ballistic missile system around Moscow to 68 missile interceptors (24 more interceptors than the US), with no objection from NATO. Furthermore, ballistic missile technology is proliferating, and proponents of the NATO system argue that it is designed to respond to threats from anywhere.
We had a comment sent in by John from Australia, however, who was concerned that the real aim of the proposed NATO missile defence system was to counter Russia’s ballistic missile capabilities:
[The NATO] missile shield defence [is officially protecting] from a nuclear Iran, when in reality everyone knows it is there only to aim missiles at Russia and to get yet another military base closer to Russia and isn’t going to be used to shoot down non-existent nuclear missiles from Iran.
We put John’s comment to Roberto Zadra, Head of the Ballistic Missile Defence Section at NATO. How would he respond?
To get another reaction, we also put John’s comment to Patrick O’Reilly, former Director of the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) at the US Department of Defence. What would be his response?
Finally, we also had a comment sent in by Edison arguing that building a NATO missile shield will only increase tensions with Russia:
We also put this question to Patrick O’Reilly to see how he would respond:
Will NATO’s proposed missile shield damage relations with Russia? Or, with ballistic missile technology proliferating globally, will it protect Europe from threats wherever they may arise? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions!
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If the Russians have any sense it will.
Bon Courage, France. Nous sommes avec vous et Charlie.
What’s the other option then?, not having a missile shield at all?
The cold war went on for decades because despite the bad relationship between the USSR and the west, both parties were rational enough to know that actually using WMD was an absolute last resort and would be catastrophic for the whole planet
Unfortunately the demented bunch of idiots called ISIS running rampage throughout the middle east have not a rational thought in their tiny little minds and god help the planet if they ever get hold of any WMD. The worrying thing is there is probably countries that would be prepared to sell to them
I personally will accept a frosty relationship with Russia to have some defence against religious freaks who welcome death on themselves and everyone else
Damaging something that is already broken is no big deal!
We need less guns and more dialogue
Nobody threats NATO countries except….NATO and industrial-militarist system and terrorists within NATO countries.
If USA can place this stuff on European soil I’m sure no one will object to a similar measure by Russia, say placing nukes ICBMs in Serbia? I bet then you NATO scum wouldn’t have bombed and lobotimized Serbia
nato is the maous. the banks + the gans fabrics ? wat they say ? that hapens only.
Its a no brainer, of course it will .. The US “claims” its for Iran .. When we all know its aimed at Russia.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ux3oiWELIQ
Yes, place missiles for our personal protection within EU, but do it without NATO. This way we are seen as neutral and not against Russia. The question that doesn’t get answered is this: are we really that weak in military capacity that we cant stand on our own? We get told time and time again how EU is the strongest economy in the world – doesn’t that mean we can also be that way military-wise? After all its money that buys all the modern guns, missiles and so on, isn’t it?
Rockets to protect us from Iran installed in Poland. Aha, uhm… let me see a map. Where the f***k is Iran… Poland… OMG!!!!
Imagine some rise of innovative A.I.weapons decide on their own. A-u-t-o-m-a-t-i-c set up of configurations to variations of programmed shifts in policy make up and implementation. :-) I’ve no understanding why isn’t everywhere peace and trade? Or are we moving to localize to new planetary body? :-( No idea which is the matter of movement of priorities among all unities to aerospace shields and instrumentario of warfare all over everywhere. Perhaps I couldn’t be wrong to suggest some extraterrestrial invasion on Earth might yet be the unparalleled confusion of all motivation for laughter.
Russia is a access of evil!!! And it should be treated as so, not only we should have shield system on place but we should increase the sanctions on this dictatorship so called county
Decisions taken in a storm era are usually wrong.try to fix the economical “why” instead of fight “ways”.
These misiles will help the threats Arise!!!!
I do not understand why the stupid Russians think the anti-missile shield is against them.
Implementing defensive technology has nothing to do with oppressing other countries no matter how insane the dictator leading the aggressor. Governments have a responsibility to defend their citizens particularly when threatened by other countries.
The invasion in Ukrane and the annexation of the Crimea, damages relations with Russia.
That’s where the enemies! http://russkaya-moldova.ru/polskie-demotivatory-ukraina-rossiya-polsha.html
Why should Europe teases Russia? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsUcHkoIChU You story teaches?
When will mankind at last be concerned about how to get better along with eachother and not spend the money for warfare??? How many people could be provided with food, shelter, life instead of this stupid nonsens of arming and protection??? I’m fed up til the ears with discussing how to protect, how to be divided, how to build walls between man and man. Fed up to see enemies everywhere, blood, distruction etc. We have to concentrate on building a world worth living in !
Russia and EU governments should try to become friends… people is (I was there and people was really friendly, for me, they are Europe)
Who is going to protect us agianst proposals like these? I suggest a anti european proposal shield
If NATO really wanted to a missile shield against threats from the Middle East, it could have built it in Russia as it is much closer to those countries. I remember some years ago Russia invited NATO to do exactly that but NATO rejected the proposal. This shows that the shield has nothing to do with the Middle East and everything to do with Russia. On top of that, the country is not a threat to Europe at all. The biggest danger for all European countries, including Russia, is Islamic extremism. We are receiving proofs of that day after day but still someone is transfixed into their hallucinations of Russian invasions and occupations and uses that to justify aggression against Russia, just like paranoic schizophrenics do.
Nato can’t install its shield or whatever on non-Nato territory, Maia. Besides, recent events have shown that Russia is not to be trusted.
Such excuses just show that NATO is not seriously committed to build protection against attacks from Arab countries. NATO wrongly assumes that Russia is a threat to Europe and is ready to waste its resources to prepare for a war that will not happen. At the same time, crazy jihadis kill innocent people in Europe with ease, a self-declared terrorist state exists next to a NATO member, wreaking havoc in the region, but this seems is not such a big threat for NATO as Russia, so the priority is to build a shield against Russia. Very delusional behaviour, out of touch with reality and ultimately – unhelpful to anyone!
It’s about common sense and sticking to a risk assessed protocol. It is not about friendship. And this is where Russia has a cultural gap with the West. Perhaps the current tension exactly is because of a cultural clash.
The real problem is Americans !weapons and wars 21centure business for them!
Albert Ainstein : i don’t know who will win world war III, but i know world war 4 will be with sticks and stones , so Europeans must collect stones
WTF?!? WW3 is near… or it is end of old politics rules with fear?
if you pay i will answer.
NATO and Russia the same shield against stupidity ignorance and underdevelopment http://www.Losio.com#vision
F the EU
Yes it will damage the already deteriorating relationship with Russia! Not Smart or Productive for Europe’s reactive (rather than proactive) approach to energy or politics ladies and gentlemen! That being said Putin lost it!
The development of missile shield technology was made possible america’s exit from the anti ballistic missile treaty by George W Bush, which was the cornerstone of cold war security. By not developing a missile shield, no one was under the illusion that both sides would lose a nuclear war, which is why we didn’t have one.
Anyone who backs a missile shield is a person who thinks that George W Bush had good ideas about international relations. And if that’s you, then you are a waste of human flesh and don’t deserve any respect.
The development of missile shield technology was made possible america’s exit from the anti ballistic missile treaty by George W Bush, which was the cornerstone of cold war security. By not developing a missile shield, no one was under the illusion that both sides would lose a nuclear war, which is why we didn’t have one.
Anyone who backs a missile shield is a person who thinks that George W Bush had good ideas about international relations. And if that’s you, then you are a waste of human flesh and don’t deserve any respect.
Hum, Russia has proved it can not be trusted, therefore, yes, the balistic missile shield should be put in place. With it, Russia will think twice, before trying to antagonize European countries, especialy the ones that choose to pursue a path far away from Russia! ;)
Hum, Russia has proved it can not be trusted, therefore, yes, the balistic missile shield should be put in place. With it, Russia will think twice, before trying to antagonize European countries, especialy the ones that choose to pursue a path far away from Russia! ;)
I do not care what Russia thinks. NATO does what they must.
Nuke from orbit, it is the only way to be sure.
I would say somebody needs to start chatting with Russia, and give some penaltys to ukraine for all those killings and nazi partys, lets send jurnalist to crimea for 3 moths or so to look how ppl living and feeling there, and start stoping that war, or war makes money?
I for one am glad the shield is in place and in force. I’m not really scared of an attack from Russia, but it doesn’t hurt to show them NATO and the EU have balls – not just diplomatically and economically but militarily too. We’ve got Russia’s dictatorial regime on their knees, or almost. Now we just need to wait for the Russian people to turn against them.
@Andries Vienne we will see, but You know that if ppl do not turn against them their are right good leaders in that kind of russian economic positioning, no everyone could manage it out, but its possible and then Chao amigo usa with your big black debt hole, but till then one side will be trying constantly pressure eu to sanctioning the other. Maybe because still oil and energy played and playing big role in worlds currency, look at Ukraines how they call them” terrorist” are these ppl living on terittory where is some stuff under? maybe that’s why they are terrorists?
Basic stuff will happen, somebody on news paper will say – they killing inosent ppl and then every one will be texting same shit, so those ballistic protections start bringing back investments. Question where is tape from mh17 did they rerecording it ?
What about rdsa.l they still want build pumps in east Ukraine?
Helloooooo? It already has!
ma quale scudo contro la Russia, la tengano alleata
I believed Europe is peace?
Why US has to play their game of nuclear footbal in europe and create tense situations in the name of peace and protection. As close as you go near any country they are going to be alarmed though it is peaceful purposes, but weapons can never be said as peace making tool.
NATO is planning missile shields neglecting that the best shield is COOPERATION. Russia does not seem willing to engage to another cold war. However, Putin opposes every move that further violates the Bush-Gorbachev agreements that led to the re-unification of Germany (NATO and German infiltration in former USSR regions of Ukraine and Caucasus are casus beli for Moscow).
The solution is simple: hands off Russia and COOPERATION with Moscow on the major issues that threaten World Peace and Stability: rising backward religious radicalism in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Europe and SE Asia as well as world economic inequalities.