미국의 미사일 방어망 구축에 대한 러시아의 인식과 대응

The United States declared its intention to pull out from ABM treaty which was concluded in 1972 with the Soviet Union to clear out the obstacle for building missile defense system. While Russian President Putin criticized the U.S. movement as a mistake, he excluded as an option any movement which could derail nuclear arms control. Russian experts agree with their president that the U. S. missile defense system would not become a major threat in near future. However, they notice the symbolic meaning of the U.S. move as a withdrawal from old game rule which have given Russia an equal partnership with the United States in term of nuclear armaments. The ABM treaty has been providing strategic stability based on nuclear parity between the United States and Russia. The situation of Russian nuclear forces would become worsened because they are deprived the priority consideration in allocation of budget for weapon procurement which was given for years. Some experts assert that in 5 years, Russian nuclear warhead might be reduced less than 1500, and that these forces are also highly vulnerable to U.S. first strike. It means that U.S. may have blackout potential with superior nuclear forces and with missile defense. The problem is that Russian situation of nuclear forces deteriorate rapidly when the United States tries to construct missile defense system which will be further expanded. The Russian reaction in this situation of disruption of nuclear strategic stability seems to rebuild and strengthen the Space Forces. Especially, the United States much depends on space for military as well as its economy and even every day life. Space can be an Achilles muscles for the United states. The Russian Space Forces may be considered an asymmetrical strategic countermeasure to the U.S. construction of missile defense.