MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax-AVN) - The implementation of the U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe could lead to a new global arms race, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the Russian Army General Staff, said.
"When the third and fourth stage begins in enhancing the missile defense system in Europe, as it is spelt out, then the Russian Federation will, of course, be compelled to take a number of measures aimed at countering these missile defense systems. I am certain that this moment will be the start of a new stage in the arms race that no one wants, particularly in the current economic climate," Makarov said at a conference on the European missile defense system, attended by foreign military attaches, on Friday.
Missile defense is a very expensive undertaking. The missile defense costs unveiled by the U.S. are clearly understated, because it is known what standard counter-missiles could be worth, he said.
If the U.S. continues to create a global missile defense system unilaterally, without Russia, then "in five or six years we will see the start of a relentless arms race, including in the U.S., because they too will have to take protective measures," Makarov said.
"And this process can go on forever," he said.