Russia, "extremely concerned" about NATO antiballistic systems in Romania and Poland

Moscow is “extremely concerned” about the installation of the NATO antiballistic systems in Romania and Poland, which are prohibited by the Treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF), the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. Moreover, Russia intends to take all the necessary measures to guarantee its safety, the Ministry added according to the Sputnik agency, reports local Mediafax. Russia has expressed its concerns related to the antimissile defense systems installed in Romania and Poland in the past as well. In December last year, Russian general Sergei Karakaev, the commander of the country’s Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), said that Russia had missiles that could destroy any antiballistic elements installed by the US. This time Russian Ministry’s announcement came just days after US President Barack Obama said that NATO had to evolve and strengthen its presence at its Eastern border. "We’ll continue to bolster the defense of our front-line allies in Poland and Romania and the Baltic states. So we have to both make sure that NATO carries out its traditional mission, but also to meet the threats of NATO’s southern flank. That’s why we need to stay nimble, and make sure our forces are interoperable, and invest in new capabilities like cyber defense and missile defense,” Obama said while in Germany. He urged the European NATO members to meet their commitment to allot 2% of their GDP for defense. Barack Obama also spoke about Russia and the relations with this country, saying that, although he had invested a lot in good relations with Russia, the sanctions against this country had to stay in place “until Russia fully implements the Minsk agreements that Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande and others have worked so hard to maintain, and provide a path for a political resolution of this issue". “And ultimately, it is my fervent hope that Russia recognizes that true greatness comes not from bullying neighbors, but by working with the world, which is the only way to deliver lasting economic growth and progress to the Russian people.” Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com