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US criticises Russia shield move US criticises Russia shield move
(about 1 hour 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. The Kremlin has asked the US why 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.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. Russian 'rhetoric'
Kaliningrad lies between Poland and Lithuania and already hosts a large Russian base. Within hours of the conclusion of the US presidential election last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his plans to place short-range Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad
Mr Medvedev said the move would "neutralise" the US defence shield, which will see missile interceptors in Poland and a linked radar in the Czech Republic.
The proposed defence system has Nato-wide backing, but Moscow sees it as a direct threat to its security.
The US defence secretary said the greatest threat to Russian security was Iran - which the US says is working on long-range missile technology - and that the US missile shield would counter this.
He said that Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad - which lies between Poland and Lithuania - could not protect Russia.
Mr Gates said: "As we try to make clear, Russia has nothing to fear from a defensive missile shield or for that matter from the presence of democratic nations on its periphery.
"Rather than engaging in the kind of rhetoric associated with a bygone era, the United States would prefer that Russia works with us to combat mutual security threats," he said.
Russia has said it will take up negotiations with the incoming administration of Barack Obama, who will replace George W Bush as US president in January.