Moscow sounds warning over US missiles in Norway, says launch sites could be targeted

Russia has criticised the United States for deploying a new missile system in Norway, warning that the move could further damage already strained efforts by Moscow and Washington to discuss nuclear and strategic stability. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the system installed in Norway uses Mk-41 launchers capable of firing different types of missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles. Moscow said the deployment was particularly concerning because missiles launched from the system could reach a large part of European Russia, including the Russian capital.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said the deployment of US ground-based intermediate-range missiles in Europe undermined the possibility of meaningful discussions with Washington on strategic issues. "Steps such as the deployment in Europe of US ground-based intermediate range missiles that pose a threat to the Russian Federation 'reset to zero' - to put it mildly - the conditions for constructive dialogue with the US on strategic issues," the ministry said. Russia also issued a direct warning over the locations of the missile systems. It said Moscow would pay "particular attention" to the sites where US missile systems are deployed, as well as their command-and-control centres. According to the ministry, these locations would be considered targets if a military conflict were to break out.

US media reports said Washington had delivered the new missile launch system to Norway in August. The Mk-41 launcher is a versatile system that can be configured to fire different missiles. Russia's concern centres on the possibility that such systems could be used to launch weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory.

The Russian foreign ministry also criticised the state of strategic stability discussions between Moscow and Washington. It said talks on strategic stability had been curtailed under the previous US administration. Moscow also rejected as "unrealistic" plans by the current administration to pursue broader negotiations on strategic issues that would include China. The latest dispute comes as Russia and the US remain at odds over missile deployments and the future of nuclear arms control, with Moscow warning that the new system in Norway could make an already difficult dialogue even harder.