US gears up missile defense system in Europe to Russia’s ire

A US missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in Romania becoming operational tomorrow and officials breaking ground at another site in Poland on Thursday.

NATO and US officials say the system is aimed against potential long-range threats from the Middle East, mainly with Iran in mind. But Russia is adamantly opposed to having the advanced military system on its doorstep and the development is certain to further exacerbate tensions between Russia and the West that are more strained than at any time since the Cold War.

The United States and NATO say the missile shield — which is able to track and shoot down incoming missiles — is purely defensive and is, in any case, powerless against Russia’s large stockpile of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

— AP