Space Travel News
MISSILE NEWS
Kremlin warns Russia could target Europe if US deploys missiles
Kremlin warns Russia could target Europe if US deploys missiles
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) July 14, 2024

The Kremlin on Saturday warned that the deployment of US missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets for Russian missiles in a repeat of Cold War-style confrontation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke of a "paradox" in which "Europe is a target for our missiles, our country is a target for US missiles in Europe".

"We have enough capacity to contain these missiles but the potential victims are the capitals of these countries," he said, speaking to Russian state television channel Russia 1.

Peskov also hinted that such a confrontation could undermine Europe as a whole -- in the same way that the Cold War ended with the Soviet Union's collapse.

"Europe is coming apart. Europe is not living its best moment. In a different configuration, a repeat of history is inevitable," he said.

The White House announced on Wednesday during a NATO summit that it would periodically station long-range weapons including Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026 as a deterrent.

"Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States' commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence," the White House said.

- 'It's securing peace' -

The Kremlin has already criticised the move, accusing Washington of taking a step towards a new Cold War and of directly participating in the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry on Friday said that Defence Minister Andrei Belousov held a telephone call with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin where they discussed lowering the risk of "possible escalation".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has hailed the US decision despite criticism from members of his Social Democrats.

The decision marks a return of US cruise missiles to Germany after a 20-year absence.

Defending the decision, Scholz told reporters at the NATO summit that it was "something of deterrence and it's securing peace, and it is a necessary and important decision at the right time."

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk that the deployment decision addressed a "very serious gap" in the country's capabilities.

Responding to the Kremlin's warning that the US missile deployment could put European capitals at risk, a US State Department spokesperson said the United States and NATO "do not seek a military conflict with Russia... but any military action directed against a NATO Ally would trigger an overwhelming response".

Russia is "the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area", the spokesperson said, adding it was "Russia that started this war and Russia could end it today".

The German army does not have long-range missiles that launch from the ground, only cruise missiles that can be fired by aircraft.

The 1980s deployment of US Pershing ballistic missiles in West Germany at the height of the Cold War prompted widespread demonstrations, with hundreds of thousands coming out in pacifist protest.

US missiles continued to be stationed through the reunification of Germany and into the 1990s.

But following the end of the Cold War, the United States significantly reduced the numbers of missiles stationed in Europe as the threat from Moscow receded.

Now NATO countries -- spearheaded by the United States -- have been bolstering their defences in Europe following the start of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine in 2022.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MISSILE NEWS
Zelensky urges NATO leaders to lift all limits on striking Russia
Washington (AFP) July 11, 2024
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called on NATO leaders to drop all restrictions on letting Kyiv strike inside Russia with Western weaponry as they wrapped up a three-day summit in Washington. The 32-nation alliance has used the pomp-filled 75th anniversary gala in the US capital to showcase its resolve against Moscow and backing for Kyiv. The gathering has been overshadowed by uncertainty in the United States as President Joe Biden - who will give a press conference Thursday ... read more

MISSILE NEWS
MISSILE NEWS
Mars Likely Experienced Cold and Icy Conditions, Study Suggests

Martian Atmosphere Unveiled Through Innovative Use of Existing Technology

Europe's Earth Return Orbiter Advances to Next Development Stage

'Ready to come out?' Scientists reemerge after year 'on Mars'

MISSILE NEWS
Queqiao-2 Embarks on Scientific Missions for Future Lunar Exploration

Gateway Prepares for Lunar Missions

Eye Test for Lunar Impact Surveyor

Garnet Presence in the Deep Lunar Mantle Confirmed

MISSILE NEWS
Subaru Telescope Discovers New Objects Beyond the Kuiper Belt

NASA's Juno Observes Lava Lakes on Jupiter's Moon Io

Understanding Cyclones on Jupiter Through Oceanography

Unusual Ion May Influence Uranus and Neptune's Magnetic Fields

MISSILE NEWS
Unraveling Early Earth's Life and Climate Insights

JWST Unveils Potential Ice World in Habitable Zone

Potentially Habitable Ice-Covered Super-Earth Discovered by Astronomers

New Method to Enhance Microbe Viability for Space and Extreme Environments

MISSILE NEWS
China's All-Electric Communication Satellite APSTAR 6E Now Operational

Rocket Lab Prepares for Capella Space Mission Launch from New Zealand

Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket powers into space

Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launches for first time

MISSILE NEWS
Beijing Unveils 'Rocket Street' to Boost Commercial Space Sector

Shenzhou XVII Crew Shares Post-Mission Insights with Media

Shenzhou XVIII Crew Successfully Completes Second Spacewalk

Chinese Scientists Develop Novel Rosa Roxburghii Varieties via Space Breeding

MISSILE NEWS
Dark Comets May Constitute a Major Portion of Near-Earth Objects

NASA Radar Monitors Close Approaches of Two Large Asteroids

NASA, Partners Conduct Fifth Asteroid Impact Exercise, Release Summary

NASA Asteroid Experts Create Hypothetical Impact Scenario For Exercise

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.