'US missile defences are aimed at Russia'

US strategic missile defence systems are aimed at Russia despite Washington's assurances to the contrary, Russia's armed forces chief said yesterday.

"The development and deployment of missile defences is aimed against the Russia Federation," General Nikolai Makarov said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

"Despite statements from western governments that it is only to 'ensure our security', this is not the case," he said.

In September, US President Barack Obama shelved plans - fiercely opposed by Moscow - to site elements of a US missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, a plan pursued by his predecessor, George W Bush. Moscow initially welcomed Mr Obama's decision amid talk of a wide-ranging reset in strained US-Russian relations.

But it reserved judgement on Mr Obama's simultaneous announcement of plans to pursue deployment of less ambitious but more effective missile defences.

Last week, Romanian President Traian Basescu said his country - like Poland and the Czech Republic, a former east bloc satellite of Moscow - had agreed to host medium-range ballistic missile interceptors as part of a new US shield.

Mr Basescu said the shield was not aimed at Russia. But the Russian foreign ministry reacted sharply the following day, saying: "This is a serious matter which we will be analysing with care."

General Makarov said new missile defence systems in Europe would automatically undermine Russia's strategic deterrent regardless of what rhetoric were used to describe their purpose.

Meanwhile, the United States yesterday denied Moscow's latest charge that US missile defences in Europe are aimed at Russia, insisting they are directed at Iran.