Azerbaijan, Baku, June 29 / Trend , E. Tariverdiyeva/
The involvement of Russian assets, particularly Russian radars, would enhance the capability of the European missile defense system. However, the discussions on the anti-missile system have to be seen in the context of the negotiations about a new START regime, European expert on security Arnold Kammel said.
"Both START and missile defense will be discussed at the meeting. Both sites have no alternatives than cooperation," professor at European Security Institute Kammel wrote to Trend in an email.
Russian media reported about preparation of a new START II in December 2008 and January 2009. Content of the agreement was not reported. START II is expected to be one of the issues on agenda during Obama's visit to Russia scheduled for July 6-8.
Kammel said both players have not the will and capacity for a confrontation.
It would not be a surprise if an agreement on START and maybe on the anti-missile system could be announced at the forthcoming Russian-US summit which could be signed by the end of the year.
"Therefore, to launch cooperation especially the US have to erode the perception that the US final goal is to destroy Russia as the US have been constantly moving to a new strategic paradigm in not considering Russia as an enemy," he said.
Since its beginning, Moscow has protested against the anti-missile system, which it considers as a threat to its own security and has also linked the scheme to negotiations on a new treaty to curb strategic nuclear weapons, Kammel said.
He said on the contrary, U.S. officials have consistently pointed out that the planned system is aimed at preventing potential attacks from countries like Iran and North Korea.
He said now there are new American plans on the table talking about cooperation with Russia in a common anti-missile system.
"The involvement of Russian assets, particularly Russian radars, would enhance the capability of that kind of a European-based system," Kammel said.
He said the U.S.-Russian collaboration would have an additional benefit of a diplomatic signaling to rogue regimes, such as Iran or North Korea that this is an unacceptable course for them to pursue and that they will face a concerted and unified international community, should they proceed down that path.
Until recently, the United States were going to deploy a radar in the Czech Republic and ten missile interceptors in Poland till 2010 under the guise of protection from missile threats from Iran. Russia fears that these systems will threaten its security. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in early November in response to deployment of American missile defense system in Europe that Russia will deploy Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region and will use radio electronic elements of suppression of missile defense. However, after Barack Obama came to power, there are talks in the United States about the suspension or cancellation of the third position area in Europe.