After missile tests in the U.S., Russia and China convened an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting. It'll be held tomorrow evening. When the INF Treaty no longer ties the Pentagon's hands, the U.S. military announced new developments, such as the installation of ballistic warheads on hypersonic missiles and usage of nuclear systems in space. And the presidents of the U.S. and Romania, where missile defense system components are already deployed, agreed to strengthen NATO's positions in Europe.
The most alarming forecasts are coming true. In the place of the INF Treaty ruined by the U.S., America is beginning to create its own architecture of "global danger". Mike Pence announced to politicians, military men, and NASA scientists, who gathered under the Shuttle's wing, that the U.S. views space as a field of military use.
Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President: "Space is a warfare domain. The U.S. Space Force will ensure the protection of our people, our interests, and values in the huge outer space and here, on earth".
Mike Pence announced that the new space command will appear in the U.S. Armed Forces next week. In the specially issued memorandum, the White House explicitly indicated that America is going to launch nuclear systems into space: “The ability to use space nuclear systems safely and sustainably is vital to maintaining and advancing United States dominance and strategic leadership in space".
It's coming to the point where the U.S. can begin to deploy nuclear weapons in space. In this case, each inhabitant of the planet will have a nuclear bomb hanging over his head, whose flight time is several minutes. Russia has repeatedly proposed to ban the nuclear militarization of outer space through UN international treaties. But the U.S. and its allies oppose it. The Romanian president flew overseas to ask for an increase in the American contingent. Bucharest thinks that the 900 U.S. servicemen and Mk-41 systems deployed in the country aren't enough. Mk-41 systems can be used not only as part of missile defense forces but also to launch attack cruise missiles. It was that system that Washington used to test a new land-based cruise missile just two weeks after the U.S. withdrew from the INF Treaty. That missile was prohibited by the treaty. The Pentagon also reported that it's working on a hypersonic missile with a ballistic warhead, whose range was also prohibited by the INF Treaty.
Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia: "In this development of events, we see a risk of ruining the architecture of strategic stability, which could cause the new, dangerous cycle of an arms race. We want to discuss strategic stability issues, with European countries participating".
An increasing number of countries see a threat to their security in the U.S.'s actions.
Geng Shuang, Spokesman for the Chinese MFA: "The test launch shows the U.S.'s real goal. It withdrew from the treaty to develop its new, advanced missiles. It strives for exclusive military dominance".
The Russian Ministry of Defense calculated such a scenario long ago. Moscow has the means to respond to the threats, whose number is increasing.
Sergey Shoygu, Defense Minister of Russia: "The actions of the U.S.and its allies are aimed at expanding its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, weakening the positions of Russia and China in Southeast Asia. The military and political situation in the western strategic direction remains tense. We're taking a number of measures to counter the emerging threats".
Sergey Shoygu announced that the Western Military District will receive over 1,300 pieces of new and modernized military equipment this year. The operational strength of coastal and anti-aircraft defense troops will be improved. The Eastern Military District will also be significantly reinforced. It'll receive over 1,700 pieces of equipment. The command of a composite aviation division and anti-aircraft missile brigade will be formed. The large submarine, the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, will enter combat duty. It's already been launched and is currently undergoing sea trials. The military also began to prepare for the three major international CSTO exercises. There'll be the large-scale Russian-Belarusian operational exercise Union Shield 2019. It'll involve 12,000 servicemen. The Russian defense minister emphasized that the exercises are exclusively defensive in nature.
Alexander Khristenko, Maxim Shchepilov for Vesti.
