Plans to deploy missile defense in the European Union is not directed against Russia, because Russian weapons systems have the ability to cross it, said Deputy head of the joint Committee of chiefs of staff U.S. Admiral James Winnefeld.

"needless to say, such a strong country like Russia, may cross ABOUT this system quickly. That's not the question. The question that concerns us and which we help our European allies - protection against Iranian or other threats that arise in the field, " said Winnefeld, a speech at the Center for strategic and international studies.

He said that North America place in the European Union " analogue of a national missile defence system ", which is not directed against Russia, as it had no such opportunity.

"It is not the policy of the U.S. to build a missile defense system to counter Russian ballistic missiles in the European Union. The placement of the elements of this system in Poland and Romania aimed at countering ballistic long-range missiles that have the capability to be launched from other countries outside the Euro-Atlantic region against our NATO partners in the European Union ", - said Winnefeld.

However, He said that instead of having to worry about the missile defense system in Europe Russia needs to convince Iran to curtail its missile program.

"The best that we have the opportunity to make Russia and China in this area, is to convince North Korea and Iran to abandon programs to develop ballistic missiles. Unfortunately, as long as we don't see, because It happens, " added the Admiral.

authorized the Pentagon confirmed that North America together with its European partners continue to deploy elements of a missile defense system in the European Union. For example, in Romania until the end of 2015 will host missile interceptors system "Aegis" (in modification SM3 block 1A and block B).

in addition, in the last month of summer sea modification of these missiles will be supplied for the testing of naval forces of the United States, which was finalized with the successful tests of these missiles in the past year in Hawaii.

Also the Admiral announced the arrival to the Mediterranean, three U.S. Navy ships, equipped with "Aegis" as part of the process for the creation of European missile defense.

in 2002 the US withdrew from signed with Russia anti-ballistic missile Treaty (He allowed the parties to create only one missile defense systems, limiting the location, size, and power) and headed for the Placement in the European Union 3rd position area of global strategic system their (the interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic), able to hit Russian ICBMs.

Moscow felt these Plans threat and requires to secure assurances about "not directed" the European missile defense against Russia in a legally binding form, but is rejected. In March 2014, the United States, and in April, NATO stopped the dialogue with Russia on missile defense, citing the Ukrainian crisis.

sections: Politics