RUSSIA:Russia and the US took a step back towards Cold War tensions yesterday when the Kremlin attacked plans for a "star wars" missile defence system based in Europe.
Joining the growing chorus of criticism from Moscow against the plan, Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov dismissed US assurances that it was intended to protect the US and its European allies from countries like North Korea or Iran.
Both the Czech and Polish governments, now aligned with the US as full Nato members, are offering to host American military bases as part of the Pentagon's attempt to expand a system that can knock incoming intercontinental missiles out of the air.
More than €8 billion of investment per year has been earmarked for the project.
But echoing criticism from a Russian general earlier this week that the plan is a "real threat" to his country's national security, Mr Ivanov said that neither of the alleged threatening states - North Korea and Iran - has the capacity to launch missiles towards Europe.
"Now we have a reasonable question to ask: what is the target of this system?" he asked while in Delhi to expand military co-operation with the Indian government.
Mr Ivanov, who is considered a possible successor to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has previously warned that the expansion of the missile system would compromise the strategic balance between the West and Russia.
Dubbed the "son of star wars", the programme harks back to the original aspiration of the Reagan administration in the 1980s to thwart Russian missiles with new technology that seemed straight from the science fiction films of the same name.
Russia continues to rearm its military after years of cutbacks and Moscow has also warned Warsaw it could take unspecified measures if a "star wars" site is built in Poland.
The US already has two sites, in Alaska and California, but none in Europe.
Separately, the Czech government also confirmed yesterday it was negotiating with the US about hosting a radar base to co-ordinate the security umbrella.
In both countries public opinion has been more sceptical than their governments about the benefits of participation.
The criticism of the new missile system is just the latest in a flurry of recent developments indicating that the major global military powers are not dropping their guard.
China once again hinted at its growing capability this month, after a Chinese test missile successfully destroyed an old satellite in orbit.
Russia hopes to further bolster its own defence industry by agreeing to jointly develop a new generation of fighter aircraft with India. Both air forces also plan to hold joint exercises in the future.