The Russian Defence Ministry is prepared to modernize the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan if a decision is made on its joint-use with the U.S. to monitor potential missile threats.

Russia`s first Deputy Chief-of-Staff of Space Forces, Aleksander Yakushin, made the statement at a press conference in Moscow on Saturday.

Experts from Russia, the U.S. and Azerbaijan will hold consultations on September 18 to further discuss using the Gabala station.

The move follows a proposal by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year to use the base as an alternative to a U.S.-planned anti-missile defence system to be located in Eastern Europe.
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