Last week we blogged about Russia’s optimism that our new president is willing to discuss Russia’s objections to missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic. The New York Times reports that NATO’s military exercises in Georgia are interfering with Russia’s discussions with the U.S.
Vladimir Putin said this about our agreements with the two countries:
“I don’t think you have to be an expert to see that if one side wants to or has an umbrella against various threats, it can begin to suffer from the illusion that it is permissible to do whatever it likes, and then its actions will become many times more aggressive and the threat of a global confrontation will reach a danger level.”
As Russia seeks to implement its missile defense agenda, the country recently celebrated its victory over Nazi Germany during WWII by exhibiting the new S-400 missile defense system. At the celebration, President Dmitri Medvedev issued another barely-veiled threat:
“Any aggression against our citizens will be met with appropriate resistance, and the future of Russia will be peaceful, successful and happy.”
The S-400 is designed to intercept missiles from low and high altitudes, according to a Russian military expert. (Source)
••••The Korea Times reports that the U.S. and South Korea will meet to discuss rogue state North Korea and other issues. President Barack Obama will select an envoy to North Korea, who will have to deal with that country’s obstinate leaders. (The Korea Times)
•••• The discussion comes just in time. Sources report that North Korea is set to test-launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching Alaska and perhaps the West Coast.
A Korea Institute for Defense director, Baek Seung-joo said, “The missile is pointing at Obama. North Korea thinks that with such gestures they can control U.S. foreign policy.” (LA Times)
•••• Russia and NATO disagree over Russia’s plans to base troops in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia.
“The short version of this is that they agreed to disagree…The exchange of views on Georgia was very frank, was very clear, and certainly there was not a meeting of minds on that issue,” said a military alliance spokesman. (Tehran Times)
Last year, Russia invaded Georgia after the country invaded South Ossetia. Weeks after the violence, Russia and Georgia negotiated a cease-fire. Russia claimed troops that remained in the region afterward were peacekeepers and part of the cease-fire agreement.
The U.S. and the Czech Republic signed an agreement last week that facilities the development of a missile defense radar base in the Czech Republic. Negotiations for the base took years, but both sides quickly came to an agreement in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. The base may be operational by 2013. (AFP)
Raytheon and Boeing are developing three prototype air-to-ground missiles, thanks to a $125 million contract awarded by the U.S. Army. Expected to be ready by 2016, the missiles will be made for helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and unmanned air drones. (Boston Business Journal)
Last week, Russia successfully launched a Bulava-M submarine-based ballistic missile from the ballistic missile nuclear submarine Dimitry Donskoi. Russia plans to adopt Bulava-M missiles for service with its navy and will commission the first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine by 2009. (RIA Novosti)
Newsflash: Russia has issued another warning. Any sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Georgia, President Dmitry Medvedev said today, would backfire.
Russia boasts that it’s too big for sanctions to have any effect. “If attempts are made to introduce sanctions, damages will be symmetrical.”
Russia’s back in the cold war game. Had it ever left?
The U.S. and other countries were critical of Russia for invading Georgia last month, although Georgia struck first in South Ossetia. Russia has taken its time moving troops out of the region after the countries agreed to a cease-fire.
Medvedev warned of sanctions backfiring after NATO’s Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer traveled to Georgia to show support. Georgia has made no secret of wanting to join NATO, which Russia opposes. Additionally, the European Commission proposed to give Georgia $700 million over three year to help with invasion recovery efforts.
Preparations for the launch of Iran’s first nuclear plant, Bushehr, are in the final stage. According to the AFP, a Russian official said the launch will be irreversible by next February.
The plant, which will be run by Russia, is suspect. Western countries, including the U.S., believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and that the plant is a civilian cloak to hide those developments. Naturally, Iran denies it.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France believes Iran is developing weapons, but a foreign minister spokesman told the AFP, “Nuclear weapons are not part of Iran’s defence doctrine.”
While Russia has expressed disapproval of America’s plan to install missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, the country supposedly is “as worried as any Western country” about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. How credible is this sentiment? In our opinion, it’s not credible at all.
In other news, the U.S. has pulled out of a civilian nuclear agreement with Russia. The agreement, signed in May, theoretically could have helped both countries increase nuclear trade and stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. An excerpt from the White House press release:
“In view of recent actions by the Government of the Russian Federation incompatible with peaceful relations with its sovereign and democratic neighbor Georgia, I have determined that the determination regarding the proposed Agreement in Presidential Determination 2008-19 is no longer effective.”
Reuters reports that the withdrawal was “widely seen” as punitive action against Russia for invading Georgia, but the statement makes clear it definitely was. At some point in the future, things may change.
Last week we told you Russia and Poland agreed to meet and discuss, among other things, Poland’s plans to install missile interceptors. In a confusing turn of events this week, Russia plans to deploy high-precision weapons near Poland, according to the AFP.
Russian politician Viktor Zavarzin said his country has “new weapons types” to be installed near the 10 missile interceptors the U.S. plans to place in Poland. Russia has been less than pleased with the agreement between Poland and the U.S. and have made veiled threats. The AFP quoted a senior Russian official as saying Poland may face “possible strikes” against its missile defense base.
In related news, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to convince Russia to withdraw troops from Georgia, as agreed. Weeks after Russia and Georgia negotiated a cease-fire, Russian troops remain in Georgia. The AP reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wants to deploy European Union monitors to Georgia.
Russia claims the remaining troops are peacekeepers and are part of the cease-fire agreement.
Russia say it expects to complete troop withdrawal from Georgia sometime today. Russia’s Colonel General Anatoly Nagovitsyn said the troops are in “full compliance” with agreements, but are not cooperating with NATO. (Source)
Nagovitsyn told CNN, “Yes, we refrain from the exercises, but it is only a response. It is not the Russian side that provoked it.”
Troop removal has been slow-going, leading some to wonder whether Russia intended to leave at all or to honor a cease-fire agreement. As it turns out, Russia accused Georgia of violating the agreement.
Earlier this month, Russian troops marched into South Ossetia and Georgian territory after Georgia attacked the province. Was Russia’s response justified? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, Russia is not happy about our country’s involvement in the conflict or our agreement with Poland and the Czech Republic to set up missile defense systems in those countries.
The U.S. and Poland sealed a deal to install 10 missile interceptors in Poland. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski signed the agreement today. The U.S. also agreed to give Poland Patriot missiles as part of the deal to host the base.
According to the Associated Press, Rice said the agreement “will establish a missile defense site…that will help us to deal with the new threats of the 21st century of a long-range missile threats from countries like Iran or from North Korea.”
As we blogged before, Russia is not pleased with these developments and considers the future missile defense base a threat. Even before Russia’s invasion of Georgia, the situation was tense in the region. Poland and the U.S. insist the base is a defense, not an attack or threat.
The U.S. and the Czech Republic signed an agreement for the U.S. to install a missile radar tracking system.
The conflict began earlier this month when Georgia attacked a small province called South Ossetia. Russia responded by counter-attacking in South Ossetia and advancing into Georgia. The countries involved agreed to a cease-fire last week.
According to ITN, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that “most” of his country’s forces will withdraw at the end of the week, with some troops left in a buffer zone. Some sources are reporting that there have been no large-scale pullouts. At a NATO meeting in Brussels, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Russia is “becoming more and more the outlaw in this conflict. They intend and probably still do intend to strangle Georgia and its economy.”
William D. Zeranski, writing for The American Thinker, also notes Russia’s withdrawal has been slow. He adds that Poland’s missile defense agreement and Ukraine’s reported offer to integrate its early warning missile with Europe “may have been fortuitous” in light of Russia’s actions.
There’s nothing fortuitous about it, actually. Russia is a military powerhouse, relatively speaking, and lesser equipped countries know they need to be prepared for possible attacks.
Despite Russia’s displeasure with the missile defense deal between the U.S. and Poland, Poland’s citizens have a favorable opinion of the agreement, particularly in light of Russia’s invasion of Georgia.
According to the Associated Press, 58 percent of survey participants support the deal, while 37 percent said the deal is bad for Poland.
It’s no surprise that Russia considers the move a hostile one. The country “fiercely opposes the missile defense deal” and claims, rather unconvincingly, that the U.S. will use the system to target Russia. Last month, the U.S. agreed to install a missile radar system in the Czech Republic.
According to the AP, Radek Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, said NATO should take a stand on Russia’s reponse to the agreement. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State, will sign the agreement in a ceremony on Wednesday.
(Source: AP - Photo: Condoleezza Rice with Czech Republic Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda)
Last week we blogged about Russia’s optimism that our new president is willing to discuss Russia’s objections to missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic. The New York Times reports that NATO’s military exercises in Georgia are interfering with Russia’s discussions with the U.S.
•••• The discussion comes just in time. Sources report that North Korea is set to test-launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching Alaska and perhaps the West Coast.
The U.S. and the Czech Republic signed an agreement last week that facilities the development of a missile defense radar base in the Czech Republic. Negotiations for the base took years, but both sides quickly came to an agreement in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. The base may be operational by 2013. (
Newsflash: Russia has issued another warning. Any sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Georgia, President Dmitry Medvedev said today, would backfire.
Preparations for the launch of Iran’s first nuclear plant, Bushehr, are in the final stage. According to the AFP, a Russian official said the launch will be irreversible by next February.
Last week we told you Russia and Poland agreed to meet and discuss, among other things, Poland’s plans to install missile interceptors. In a confusing turn of events this week, Russia plans to deploy high-precision weapons near Poland, according to the AFP.
Russia say it expects to complete troop withdrawal from Georgia sometime today. Russia’s Colonel General Anatoly Nagovitsyn said the troops are in “full compliance” with agreements, but are not cooperating with NATO. (
Despite Russia’s displeasure with the missile defense deal between the U.S. and Poland, Poland’s citizens have a favorable opinion of the agreement, particularly in light of Russia’s invasion of Georgia.