Will respond to NATO's build-up at Russia's doorstep: Putin

Moscow [Russia], June 14 (ANI) : Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow is concerned with NATO's activities at Russia's doorstep and would react to the Washington's missile defence systems to maintain the strategic balance. Describing NATO's build-up a "big, glaring mistake," Putin said NATO shows no signs of slowing down, with plans to install missile defence launch pads on warships deployed to seas bordering Russia, and in Alaska. "Therefore by encircling Russia with missile defense systems, NATO undermines the strategic balance and fuels a new arms race. There are two threats here for us, for Russia. The first is the deployment of missile interceptors in the immediate vicinity of our borders in eastern European countries, and the second threat is that anti-missile launch pads could be converted into launch pads for attack missiles," Russia Today quoted Putin as saying. "The U.S. missile defence systems will be installed in Eastern Europe, Mediterranean and the northern seas. The systems have already been installed in Alaska, so practically the entire Russian territory will be surrounded by these systems," said Putin Putin indicated that this is another major strategic mistake because Russia will respond adequately to all these actions. "It will mean nothing more than another round of arms race," he declared. The Russian leader also noted that after the United States pulled out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABMT) in 2002, Russia was forced to develop its missile strike capabilities in order to maintain the strategic balance of forces in the world. U.S. was seeking to contain Iran, but in spite of the nuclear deal between Iran, the U.S., and five world powers is still in effect, the development of NATO's missile program does not seem to slow down.(ANI)