Moscow – Saba:
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Russia reserves the right to deploy intermediate and short-range missiles on its territory if national security needs require it.
Speaking at a press conference, Peskov said that Moscow no longer considers itself bound by the self-imposed restrictions it had previously observed regarding the deployment of such missile systems.
He added, "Russia believes it has the right to take appropriate measures to safeguard its national security, including actions necessary to meet strategic and military security requirements."
The Kremlin’s statement comes in the wake of the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia in 2019. The treaty, signed during the Cold War in 1987, was aimed at limiting the deployment of intermediate- and short-range missiles.
The United States withdrew from the treaty first, prompting a reciprocal move by Russia — paving the way for both nations to potentially redeploy these types of missiles.
This shift in Russian policy is seen as a sign of growing tensions in international relations, particularly with NATO member states and the United States.
The announcement has raised concerns in Western capitals, where experts warn that renewed missile deployments could trigger a new arms race and heighten the risk of military conflict in sensitive border regions.
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