Former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has urged Moscow and Washington to be more open while discussing the deployment of a global missile defence system. He also said ABM elements in Europe did not pose any threat to Russia.

During an annual investor conference in Moscow on Monday, he said that Russia's proposal to jointly use a radar station in Azerbaijan was a surprise one, and that it has to be thoroughly examined.

He also stated the controversial European-based anti-missile system is a sensible move by the United States.

“It is a defensive system, therefore it is no threat to anyone. And how could it be a threat to Russia when we are not expecting any kind of exchange with Russia? This is a prudent action on the part of America. Whether we need it to do it right now, and whether we handle it correctly in our discussions with the Russians and with others – I do not have to answer that, because I was gone. You can criticise how  the Americans handle this point but, please, it is not a threat to the Russian Federation,” said Mr Powell.