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US criticises Russia shield move US criticises Russia shield move
(10 minutes later)
Russian threats to base missiles in the Baltic have been criticised as "provocative" by the US defence secretary Robert Gates.Russian threats to base missiles in the Baltic have been criticised as "provocative" by the US defence secretary Robert Gates.
Mr Gates told reporters after a Nato meeting in Estonia: "Such provocative remarks are unnecessary and misguided."Mr Gates told reporters after a Nato meeting in Estonia: "Such provocative remarks are unnecessary and misguided."
Moscow sees a planned US missile shield in central Europe as a threat, and says it will place missiles in its Baltic enclave, Kaliningrad, to neutralise it.Moscow sees a planned US missile shield in central Europe as a threat, and says it will place missiles in its Baltic enclave, Kaliningrad, to neutralise it.
The US insists the shield is a defence against missiles from "rogue" nations.The US insists the shield is a defence against missiles from "rogue" nations.
The Kremlin has asked the US why - instead of deploying elements of the shield in Poland and the Czech Republic - it cannot instead use a Russian-operated early warning radar in Azerbaijan.
Mr Gates previously said that while the radar might be used, it was not capable of guiding interceptor missiles.
"Within hours of the conclusion of the American election, Russian President Medvedev responded by threatening to place missiles in Kaliningrad - hardly the welcome a new American administration deserves," Mr Gates said.
Kaliningrad lies between Poland and Lithuania and already hosts a large Russian base.