Russia is considering the deployment of medium and shorter-range missiles to Asia in response to similar actions by the United States, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday.
US moves to station its missiles in Asia, as well as other regions, would force Moscow to take military-technical measures, including relocating its own weapons, Ryabkov explained.
“The emergence of relevant American systems in any region of the world will predetermine our further steps,” he told journalists, adding that Russia’s military response would be designed to counter Washington’s actions.
Tensions have been growing since the US withdrew from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF) in 2019, from which Russia also later departed.
The INF Treaty had banned both countries from new deployments of ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500km.
Moscow has repeatedly criticized Washington’s decision to withdraw from the treaty, with Russian President Vladimir Putin calling it a “mistake.”
Ryabkov emphasized that any potential new deployment would be driven by US actions, stressing that Moscow would not allow its security to be compromised. “The time has come when persuasion and some arguments can continue to be applied, but practice shows that they do not have the proper effect, so more powerful means are needed,” he said.
He also stated that Russia’s recently-fielded hypersonic Oreshnik missile system, which is not subject to current arms treaties, is an example of how Moscow is strengthening its deterrence capabilities.
Ryabkov insisted that Russia’s military actions are a direct response to those of the US, and that any deployment of such systems by Moscow would be a necessary step to ensure security.