Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States (U.S.) that if Washington deploys long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, Russia will station similar missiles within range of Western countries.
The U.S. will begin deploying long-range capabilities in Germany in 2026 in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to NATO and European defense, the U.S. and Germany announced earlier this month.
The U.S. “episodic deployment” is in preparation for a longer-term deployment of such capabilities, which will include SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles and developing hypersonic weapons that have a longer range than current weapons in Europe, Washington and Berlin confirmed.
In a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria and India to mark Russian Navy Day in the former imperial capital of St. Petersburg, Putin warned the U.S. that the move risks triggering a Cold War-like missile crisis.
”The flight time of such missiles to targets on our territory, which could be equipped with nuclear warheads in the future, will be about 10 minutes,” said Putin. “We will take reciprocal deployment measures, taking into account the actions of the U.S., its satellites in Europe and other regions of the world.”
Putin said the U.S. was stoking tensions and moving Typhon missile systems to Denmark and the Philippines, and he compared the U.S. plans to NATO’s decision to deploy Pershing launchers in Western Europe in 1979.
The Soviet leadership, including General Secretary Yuri Andropov, feared that Pershing’s deployment was part of an elaborate U.S.-led plan to decapitate the Soviet Union by removing its political and military leadership.
”This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War in connection with the deployment of American medium-range Pershing missiles in Europe,” Putin said.
Putin repeated an earlier warning that Russia could continue to produce medium- and shorter-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and then consider where to deploy them after the U.S. delivers similar missiles to Europe and Asia.
