Russia Condemns New US Base In Poland, Brings Up Nuclear Threats Again

Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova/Obviously Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

JAKARTA - Russia's Foreign Ministry said the new US ballistic missile defense base in northern Poland would increase the overall nuclear hazard potential and be on Russia's target list for potential destruction if necessary.

The air defense base located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, part of a broader NATO missile shield, opened on November 13.

"This is another provocative step in a series of actions that seriously disrupt the stability of America and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic field," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova.

"This leads to weakening strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, increasing the overall level of nuclear danger," he added.

The US base in Redzikowo is part of a broader NATO missile shield, dubbed Aegis Ashore, which the alliance says could intercept short to medium-range ballistic missiles.

Given the nature and level of threats posed by Western military facilities, missile defense bases in Poland have long been added to a list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be carried out with a wide range of advanced weapons,'said Zakharova.

NATO missile shields include locations in Poland, Romania as well as US naval destroyers at naval bases in Spain and early warning radars in Turkey, according to NATO.