The United States keeps 180 B61 thermonuclear bombs at six air force bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, which can be delivered to their targets by F-15E and F16 fighters. Germany and Italy use Tornado fighters which can also carry these thermonuclear bombs. Russian generals would be careless to ignore these obvious national security risks and to not try to prevent a hypothetical nuclear strike.
On Sunday, the German newspaper Bild reported that Russia had deployed its Iskander-M/SS-26 Stone shorter-range missile systems in the Kaliningrad Region. The Iskander-M is designed to hit ground targets and can destroy other missile systems, long-range artillery, and air-defense and missile-defense facilities and systems. Bild also described other specifications of this missile system including its mobility. The hard-to-detect Iskander-M can also be launched in no time at all. According to the German newspaper, classified satellite photos show “at least ten” Iskander-M missile systems in Russia’s exclave, including some deployed near the borders of the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia). The newspaper claims that the Russian missiles were deployed throughout 2013.
But how does the Kaliningrad Region border on Latvia and Estonia? A quick check of the map shows that Kaliningrad Region actually borders Poland and Lithuania not Latvia or Estonia. But okay, perhaps the translator made a mistake. Or perhaps the Bild correspondent who wrote the article doesn’t know geography very well. This can happen, but why is this German newspaper so surprised that Russia is deploying military equipment on its own territory? Who is Bild scaring besides its own German burghers in pointing out that Iskander-M missiles have a range of 500 kilometers, and that they are deployed only 527 km from Berlin? And why doesn’t it say why Russia is forced to deploy these weapons along its borders?
If our Bild colleagues had bothered to explain this, it would be clear that the United States, Germany’s NATO ally, has forced Moscow to make this move. So, what exactly led Moscow to this action?
The United States keeps 180 B61 thermonuclear bombs at six air force bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, which can be delivered to their targets by F-15E and F16 fighters. (By the way, Russia keeps its tactical nuclear weapons on its own territory only). Even non-nuclear NATO countries, including the Belgian, Dutch and Turkish air forces, use the above warplanes. Germany and Italy use Tornado fighters which can also carry these thermonuclear bombs. These NATO aircraft are deployed consecutively at an air base near Siauliai, Lithuania, and they take turns patrolling the Baltic Sea coast. A supersonic fighter taking off from Siauliai can reach Smolensk, Russia, in about 15-20 minutes. Russian generals would be careless to ignore these obvious national security risks and to not try to prevent a hypothetical nuclear strike. As I see it, the recently deployed Iskander-M missiles are only part of a system of defensive measures, which should be used by Russia’s armed forces to protect its people.
The Voronezh-DM early-warning radar system, which is also deployed in the Kaliningrad Region, can monitor missile launches in the Atlantic Ocean where US and British strategic missile submarines are deployed. Therefore Russia is forced to ensure its national security as the United States deploys its own missile-defense systems along Russia’s borders. These systems threaten strategic missile units in European Russia which account for 50% of the national nuclear arsenal.
The United States initially planned to deploy X-band radar systems in the Czech Republic, as well as ground-based interceptor (GBI) missiles in Poland. And now Washington has approved a phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe, the first phase of which is currently being implemented. SM-3 interceptor missiles will be deployed at a missile defense base now under construction near Deveselu, Romania. Another base in Poland, not far from the Kaliningrad Region is also planned. Any sober-minded person will tell you that Russia must respond to these confrontational plans, to quote Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Some Russian analysts repeat US statements that Washington’s planned missile defense system does not threaten Russia in any way, and that it aims to defend Europe and America from hostile and unpredictable regimes, including Iran and North Korea. However, an agreement has now been reached with Tehran, which is moving to scale down its nuclear program. This fact has prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to suggest that Washington postpone plans to deploy a European missile-defense system. But, to the contrary, US President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and other officials have noted unanimously that Iran cannot be trusted. Moreover, the missile defense system is reportedly being created in order to respond to various potential threats, rather than against any specific adversary.
What choice does Russia have? The West is talking about potential threats, but Russia also has its own interests. As Sergei Shoigu has noted, missile defense programs continue to be developed in Europe, and Russia’s concerns are being disregarded. US and NATO missile defense plans lack predictability, Mr Shoigu added.
Even though Russian military sources have yet to confirm it, Bild claims that Iskander missiles are being deployed in Kaliningrad. If so, NATO and the United States are getting what they asked for.
This article was originally published in Russian in
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
