Bush Invites Russia To Cooperate For Anti-Missile Shield

“The most important step we can take to protect our citizens is to deploy new capabilities to defend against a ballistic missile attack,” Bush said.

 

The White House leader said the need for missile defense in Europe is real and urgent.

 

“Iran is pursuing technology that could be used to produce nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles,” he said.

 

“In 2006, Iran conducted military exercises in which it launched ballistic missiles that were capable of striking Israel and Turkey. Iranian officials have declared that they are developing missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), which would give them the capability to reach us right here in Romania,” he continued.

 

Bush added that the intelligence community assesses that with continued foreign assistance, Iran could test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States and all of Europe should it choose to do so. 

 

“Today we have no way to defend Europe against such an emerging threat, so we must deploy ballistic missile defenses that can help protect,” he said, adding the United States is working with Poland and the Czech Republic to deploy a system that could defend countries in Europe from a limited, long-range attack from the Middle East.

 

The U.S. is also working with NATO on developing allied capabilities to defend against short- and medium-range attacks from the Middle East.

 

Bush invited Russia to join in this cooperative effort to defend Russia, Europe, and the United States against an emerging threat that could affect all.

 

"President Putin’s raised the possibility of using radar facilities in Azerbaijan and southern Russia. We believe these sites could be included as part of a wider threat monitoring system. It could lead to an unprecedented level of strategic cooperation between Russia and the NATO Alliance,” Bush said.

 

Russian president Putin is planning to attend his first NATO summit and later this week Bush plans to travel to Sochi, Russia, for further talks on this and other matters.

 

In their discussions, Bush said, it will be reiterated that the missile defense capabilities are not designed to defend against Russia and the new NATO being built is not designed to defend against Russia.

 

“The Cold War is over. Russia is not our enemy,” Bush said, adding NATO is “working toward a new security relationship with Russia whose foundation does not rest on the prospect of mutual annihilation."