The Pentagon says a U.S. missile defense site just activated in Romania is aimed at protecting against missiles that could threaten Europe from Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, not Russia.
Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work attended a ceremony at the Deveselu air base in Romania Wednesday, where the missile shield was “switched on” and declared fully operational.
He made a point of saying the missile defense site would have no utility against the vast Russian arsenal, and its activation was not in response to actions by Moscow.
“I want to make clear, neither this site nor the site in Poland will have the capability to undermine Russia’s strategic deterrent,” said Work.
The system is a land-based variant of the Navy’s ship-based AEGIS ballistic missile defense system.
The point was underscored at the Pentagon, where spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said, “The focus of AEGIS ashore is countering ballistic missile threats from the Middle East, in particular Iran. What this is not about is Russia.”
Work is wrapping up a three-day trip to Romania and Poland, where he met with Eastern European leaders and his NATO counterparts. He said the NATO Ballistic Missile Defense system is in direct response to Iran’s ongoing program of testing longer-range missiles, capable of striking Europe.
“As long as Iran continues to develop and deploy ballistic missiles, the United States will work with our Allies and partners to defend against this threat,” Work said.
On Friday, ground will be broken in Poland for a second site. Eventually, operational control of the system will be turned over to NATO, a change that could happen as soon soon as sometime next year.
