Why Russia Is Worried About Prospect of U.S. Missile Defense System
ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The way to preempt a nuclear missile attack has emerged as a major point of contention between the U.S. and Russia. CNN's Matthew Chance reports from Moscow on why the Russians are so worried about U.S. plans.</s>MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the nuclear threat that for decades held the United States and the Soviet Union back from the bring: mutually assured destruction, the idea there can be a shield against these weapons of mass destruction was the cornerstone of Cold War defense strategy. For the Russians, it still is.</s>GEN. VALERY MANILOV, RUSSIAN ARMY (through translator): This fundamental principle could be destroyed if it is in some way devalued or changed. There is a necessity to maintain the balance between offensive and defense armaments.</s>CHANCE: Moscow has for months been expressing concern over the proposed U.S. missile defense system, concern in may neutralize Russia's own nuclear deterrent, not just the weapons of rogue states. Kremlin officials have warned of dire consequences if the U.S. plan goes ahead without Russian agreement.</s>IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Such a system would naturally violate the terms of the 1972 antiballistic missile treaty and would threaten to undermine all our agreements on strategic offensive arms limitations.</s>CHANCE: With more nuclear warheads than it can afford to keep, Moscow has been pushing hard for joint arms reductions. In recent weeks, the Russian parliament has ratified the START II Arms Reduction Treaty, and the Putin administration says it wants further weapons cuts. But analysts say a U.S. missile defense system could freeze the process and spark a global arms race.</s>ALEXANDER PIKAYEV, ARMS CONTROL SPECIALIST: American unilaterally, more cooperativeness would greatly improve domestic position of similar people in Russia. Who doesn't want cooperation with the West and the United States? And who's still thinking in terms of the Soviet Union?</s>CHANCE: And the return to the animosities of the Cold War is a prospect all sides may be at pains to avoid. (on camera): As both Russian and U.S. presidents prepare to meet, there is joint concern the issue of missile defense could sour future relations. Few expect any concrete agreements during this weekend's summit, but both sides say they're focused on finding common ground in the months ahead. Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.