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The Globe and Mail (Canada)
January 9, 2002
Joint U.S.-Russia shield proposed
Once Cold War foes, now both countries find missile-defence interests converging
By MARK MACKINNON
MOSCOW -- A U.S. diplomat suggests that the United States and Russia work
jointly on developing a controversial ballistic-missile shield, signalling an
end to one of the sharpest diplomatic disputes between the two countries since
the end of the Cold War.
As recently as a year ago, Russia objected vociferously to the idea of a
ballistic-missile shield, arguing it would both contravene the 1972
Antiballistic Missile Treaty and undermine international security. But U.S.
ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow suggested the two sides work together on
the missile-shield project, raising the possibility of an elaborate defence
system stretching across the Northern Hemisphere.
"There are plenty of opportunities for joint development of the
architecture of the future system," he told the Interfax news agency in an
interview published yesterday. "Given that Russia has tremendous scientific
know-how and some experience with defensive systems, we think this could be a
really serious partnership, which will benefit us both."
Russian President Vladimir Putin was first to raise the idea of a joint
missile defence shield for Russia and Western Europe two years ago.
But the idea garnered little support and was seen at the time as an attempt
to forestall U.S. plans and rally European opposition to the missile-shield
idea. Mr. Vershbow, however, said the idea has great merits and is now being
given serious consideration.
The onetime Cold War enemies are finding their defence interests regularly
coincide in the new international environment, Mr. Vershbow said.
"I think we more and more recognize that our interests are converging
and we are defending the same values on the international stage," Mr.
Vershbow was quoted as saying.
The apparent willingness to compromise on both sides is part of a growing
closeness that has set in since the terrorist attacks on the United States of
Sept. 11, 2001. The new relationship is based both on a shared concern about
terrorism launched by Islamic extremists, and the apparently warm personal
relationship between Mr. Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush.
While the Kremlin is still seen as a chief diplomatic ally to Mr. Bush's
"axis of evil" countries -- Iran, Iraq and North Korea -- it recently
made it clear it would not be unduly upset if Saddam Hussein were deposed in
Iraq, and has warned North Korea not to abrogate nuclear non-proliferation
treaties in its current standoff with the United States.
The United States, for its part, has muted its criticism of Russia's
continuing war in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, and has condemned the
elected Chechen leadership for alleged links to international terrorist
organizations.
Since the Bush administration decided last year to walk away from the ABM
treaty, Mr. Putin has largely dropped his opposition and begun looking for ways
Russia can co-operate with the United States.
A missile shield shared by the United States and Russia would not only unite
the two countries that first built intercontinental ballistic missiles behind
the same defences for the first time, but it would also end a diplomatic row
over the Star Wars idea that stretches back to the time of Ronald Reagan and
Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mr. Vershbow said that Russian S-300 and S-400 ground-to-air missiles could
be upgraded for use in an antimissile shield.
He said he saw hope for co-operation in areas such as the development of
early-warning systems, missile interception and the missiles themselves.
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