Rogozin: Russia to React Harshly on American Aegis Ships in Backyard

13.11.2012 Possible deployment of American warships equipped with Aegis-type missile defense systems next to Russian coast will trigger the most strident reaction, said Russian vice premier Dmitry Rogozin.

"American mobile ship-based missile defense system being unexpectedly deployed next to Russian coast would arouse the most harsh reaction in Russia, just as any other country in such situation", he said.

According to the vice premier, American missile defense in its current form has been playing destabilizing role in Russian-NATO relationships for a long time, provoking a new arms race. "They must be told about that clearly and intelligibly. I've been working as Russian ambassador to NATO for four years and I know the language they understand best", reports RIA Novosti citing Rogozin.

He reminded that Russian arms procurement program provided fielding of not only SAM systems S-400 but the newest S-500 systems. As is expected, it will be capable to intercept ballistic targets beyond the atmosphere.

"The key feature of our forces is that they are deployed within our sovereign territory. We don't place our missile defenses next to American coasts just because we have no expansionist and aggressive plans, and we don't want to destabilize situation in other regions", said deputy prime minister.

He noted, however, that such peaceful policy did not rule out long-range radars at Russian Navy's disposal.

"However, we have never deployed ballistic missile interceptors near the US coast under any far-fetched and farcical pretexts like 'to protect our American friends from Canada and Honduras'. But Americans do deploy such assets on our doorstep allegedly to protect Russia and Europe from bad Iranian and North Korean guys", added Rogozin.