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US activates missile shield base in Romania US activates $800m missile shield base in Romania
(about 3 hours later)
The US has activated a land-based missile defence station in Romania, which will form part of a larger and controversial European shield.The US has activated a land-based missile defence station in Romania, which will form part of a larger and controversial European shield.
Senior US and Nato officials are attending the ceremony in Deveselu, southern Romania.Senior US and Nato officials are attending the ceremony in Deveselu, southern Romania.
The US says the Aegis system is a shield to protect Nato from short and medium-range missiles, particularly from the Middle East. The US says the Aegis system is a shield to protect Nato countries from short and medium-range missiles, particularly from the Middle East.
But Russia sees it as a security threat - a claim denied by Nato.But Russia sees it as a security threat - a claim denied by Nato.
Relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated since Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in 2014.Relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated since Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in 2014.
Russia is also accused of arming separatists in eastern Ukraine and sending its troops there - a claim denied by the Kremlin.Russia is also accused of arming separatists in eastern Ukraine and sending its troops there - a claim denied by the Kremlin.
'Harmful decision''Harmful decision'
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and other senior officials from the military alliance are at the opening ceremony at an old Romanian air base in Deveselu. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and other senior officials from the military alliance attended the opening ceremony at an old Romanian air base in Deveselu.
Mr Stoltenberg said the shield in Romania and a similar one in Poland "in no way undermines or weakens Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent".
"The interceptors are too few, and located too far south or too close to Russia, to be able to intercept Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles.''
He said the shield was being deployed "to tackle the potential threat posed by short and medium-range attacks from outside the Euro-Atlantic area''.
The US is believed to have spent $800m (£554m) on radar and SM-2 missile interceptors since 2013.The US is believed to have spent $800m (£554m) on radar and SM-2 missile interceptors since 2013.
The station will have a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors. The station - 180km (110 miles) south-west of Bucharest - will have a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors.
Nato and US officials say the system has been developed to track and intercept missiles fired from a "rogue" state. In the past Iran was mentioned in that context, but the US has also had North Korea in mind.Nato and US officials say the system has been developed to track and intercept missiles fired from a "rogue" state. In the past Iran was mentioned in that context, but the US has also had North Korea in mind.
For years the US has been testing the Aegis system on warships too.For years the US has been testing the Aegis system on warships too.
The officials also stress the shield is not directed against Russia. US Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work has also insisted the shield is not directed against Russia.
"Both the US and Nato have made it clear the system is not designed for or capable of undermining Russia's strategic deterrence capability," US Assistant Secretary of State Frank Rose said on Wednesday. He said Nato had offered to show the technical specifications of the shield to the Russians "to make sure that they understand the capability of the system and why it does not pose any type of a threat to their strategic deterrents".
"Russia has repeatedly raised concerns that the US and Nato defence are directed against Russia and represents a threat to its strategic nuclear deterrent. Nothing could be further from the truth," he added. Thursday's activation was strongly criticised by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow, who said counter-measures have already been taken to ensure his country's security.
Russia's foreign ministry warned on Wednesday that the system violated a treaty on nuclear forces. "From the very beginning of this whole story, we have said that according to our experts' opinion, we are convinced that the deployment of the missile defence system is truly a threat to Russia's security," he said.
A ministry statement quoted by Interfax news agency said it was a breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in 1987. Mr Peskov said it was also unclear which country the shield was being deployed against. He said that initially Russia was told it was to deter a potential rocket attack from Iran, but now "the situation has changed dramatically".
"This decision is harmful and mistaken, because it is capable of upsetting strategic stability," said Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the Russian foreign ministry's department for proliferation and arms control issues. State Duma Defence Committee Chairman Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov also described the shield as a threat to Russia.
An incoming missile would be destroyed in space, before it could re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. "They are moving to the firing line," he told the Interfax news agency. "This is not just 100, it's 200, 300, 1,000 percent aimed against us.
"This is not about Iran, but about Russia with its nuclear capabilities."
The shield works by destroying an incoming missile before it can re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
On Friday, another phase of the project will be launched in Poland with a groundbreaking ceremony at Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea. Aegis missiles are to become operational there in 2018.On Friday, another phase of the project will be launched in Poland with a groundbreaking ceremony at Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea. Aegis missiles are to become operational there in 2018.
Mr Ulyanov said Russia's interests "are being affected in a direct way by this". Russia argues that the Americans' MK-41 launch system could also be used to fire cruise missiles - not just air defence missiles - and is a violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
He said the Americans' MK-41 launch system could also be used to fire cruise missiles, not just air defence missiles.
"From our viewpoint this is a violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty," he said.