US using Russian threat as pretext for nuclear buildup: Ambassador
Moscow’s ambassador to Washington says the US has launched a scaremongering campaign against Russia to find a pretext for pumping more dollars into its military industry and building up its nuclear stockpile.
Anatoly Antonov was responding to the newly unveiled US Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), a new nuclear arms policy that aims to revamp US nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons, the RT reported
“The problem is that the Americans are again using the Russia scare to justify the rise in military spending and the nuclear buildup,” Antonov said. “We realize this comes from their desire to inject more money into the military industry sector, we know the price tag is an enormous trillions of dollars.”
The NPR classes Russia as a major challenge to the US and affirms efforts initiated under former president Barack Obama to modernize US nuclear ballistic missile submarines, strategic bombers, nuclear air-launched cruise missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and command and control.
The Pentagon’s 74-page review said such measures were needed to counter “Russia’s non-compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), its non-strategic nuclear arsenal, and its other destabilizing behaviors.”
Dismissing US allegations that Moscow violated its obligations under the 1987 INF treaty, the Russian senior diplomat said he was convinced the row over its implementation could be resolved by experts.
“I would like to state clearly that, as far as Russian obligations under any international treaties are concerned, we have been implementing them responsibly and accurately,” Antonov said. “I want to say that this dialogue should be left to professionals, instead of mass media.”
The brandishing of a “Russian threat” comes while NATO member states have significantly increased their military activities near Russia’s western borders in recent years.
The US-led military alliance has deployed around 4,000 troops, consisting of four battle groups, to Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland — all near Russian borders — in recent years.
Russia, realizing that security threat under its nose, has held several military drills to maintain preparedness. The NATO countries have then referred to those drills as signs that Russia has aggressive and not defensive intentions.
Moscow calls NATO’s military buildup at its doorstep a threat to its national security and accuses the alliance of fearmongering to justify larger defense expenditure by its member states.
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