Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter US military plans in Eastern Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill over US Senator Barack Obama’s election as president.
In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed the US on Wednesday for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.
Medvedev also proposed increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from four — a change that could deepen Western concern over democracy in Russia and play into the hands of his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the Kremlin.
Extending the presidential term could mean 12 more years in the top office for the popular Putin.
Echoing Putin, who made criticism of Washington and the West a hallmark of his two-term, eight-year presidency, Medvedev used the speech in an ornate Kremlin reception hall to cast Russia as a nation threatened by encroaching US military might.
“From what we have seen in recent years — the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO — we have gotten the clear impression that they are testing our strength,” Medvedev said.
He signaled Moscow would not give in to Western calls to pull troops from Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or rescind its recognition of their independence following the August war.
“We will not retreat in the Caucasus,” he said, winning one of many rounds of applause during the televised 85-minute address.
Talking tough, Medvedev fleshed out long-promised military measures in response to US plans for missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, former Soviet satellites now in NATO. The Kremlin claims the system is meant to weaken Russia, not defend against Iran, as Washington insists.
Medvedev said that Iskander missiles would be deployed to Russia’s western enclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, “to neutralize, if necessary, a missile defense system.”
The Iskander has a range of about 280km, which would allow it to reach targets in Poland but not in the Czech Republic — but officials have said its range could be increased.
Medvedev did not say whether the missiles would be fitted with nuclear warheads.
Russia will also deploy electronic jamming equipment, Medvedev said.
After the speech, the Kremlin announced Medvedev had congratulated Obama for winning the US presidency, saying in a telegram he was “counting on a constructive dialogue with you on the basis of trust and taking each other’s interests into account.”
In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack emphasized that the planned missile defenses were not aimed at Russia.
“The steps that the Russian government announced today are disappointing,” McCormack said. “But, again, this is not directed at them. Hopefully one day they’ll realize that.”
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