Ballistic Missile Defence - Facing Multiple Threats

摘要

Conventional ballistic missiles proliferation poses an increasing threat to NATO's population, territory, and deployed forces. More than 30 countries have/are acquiring ballistic missile technology that could carry not just conventional warheads, but also weapons of mass destruction. This does not necessarily mean there is an immediate intent to attack NATO, but it does mean that the alliance has a responsibility to take this into account as part of its core task of collective defence. In December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an updated version of Russia's military doctrine, which lists the US' ballistic missile defence (BMD) as Moscow's fourth external military danger. Russia has long held a grievance against the deployment of BMD in Europe, based on its perception of it as a threat to the Russian nuclear deterrent and Russian security. In the current economic and currency crisis - exacerbated by sanctions resulting from its annexation of Crimea and persistent involvement in Ukraine - Putin has revived BMD as an issue to further legitimise the Russian government against an old enemy, and to justify further nuclear weapons, missile, and military modernisation. In January, Russia deployed ISKANDER tactical nuclear missiles to Kalingrad, the country's westernmost territory that borders Poland.