Modern Diplomacy
Valdai Club to Discuss Missile Defence and Its Implications for Arms Control
Valdai Club Conference Hall, Tsvetnoy Boulevard 16/1, Moscow, Russia

On January 17, at 11:00 a.m. Moscow time, the Valdai Club will host the presentation of a new Valdai Club Report, titled "You Can't Miss Shooting Down: The Evolution of Missile Defence and Its Implications for Arms Control."

The development of missile defence systems is traditionally perceived as a destabilising factor, since a direct consequence of their development is an arms race. In the context of the degradation of the international military-political situation, these issues are of particular importance.

An increasing number of states are showing interest in the development of national defence networks. In addition to the undisputed leaders in this area - Russia and the United States - Israel, India, China, Iran and South Korea already have their own missile defence systems. The European Union is actively discussing the issue of rolling out its own missile defence system.

The processes of missile technology proliferation create an incentive for the accelerated development of operational-tactical missile defence systems and the corresponding information and control infrastructure as a guarantee of national and collective security. This approach provides for the integration of all information, control and strike elements of missile defence and air defence into a single system and contradicts the well-established concept of separating strategic and operational-tactical missile defence systems. The real potential for a new stage in the development of missile defence has yet to be revealed.
 
However, it is already clear that new technological solutions can enhance the capabilities of missile defence, which will lead to it becoming much more difficult to limit and control such systems, especially given the intensification of rivalry between the great powers and the landslide degradation of the arms control system.

What can be expected from military development of missile defence technology in the future? What international political problems may arise in connection with this? Is it possible to work out optimal solutions to minimize the negative effects associated with the development of missile defence for the entire system of international security? Participants of the presentation of the report will answer these and other questions.

Speakers:

  • Alexander Chekov, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Advanced American Studies, IMI MGIMO, Russian Foreign Ministry

  • Oleg Krivolapov, Senior Researcher, Department of Military-Political Studies, Institute for the US and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

  • Konstantin Bogdanov, Senior Researcher, Center for International Security, IMEMO RAS

  • Dmitry Stefanovich, Researcher at the Center for International Security, IMEMO RAS

Moderator:

Working languages: Russian, English.

Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our website or call +79269307763.

A link to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the websiteTwitterVKontakteTelegram and Zen.