U.S. Anti-Missile Project in Romania

Russia has expressed concerns regarding the news that Romanian President Traian Basescu has agreed to allow ground-based medium-range U.S. missile defense interceptors in Romania.

The plans call for the ground-based version of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System (Aegis BMD) with SM-3 missiles to be deployed in Romania by 2015.

This system cannot be said to threaten Russia's security interests since Russia has no ground-based medium-range (1,000km-5,500km) or short-range (500km-1,000km) ballistic and cruise missiles.

These missiles were all scrapped by June 1991 under an agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Nevertheless, the Russians complain that they have been kept in the dark about the logistical moves. This is contrary to joint statements made by Russian President Medvedev and President Obama indicating that the two nations would act cooperatively.

Furthermore, the Obama administration arguably displays an anti-Russian bias by moving forward on the missile defense project without any participation of Moscow or Russia's allies.

Expect the issue to be a chronic irritant in U.S.-Russia relations.