Lavrov: US wants to neutralize Russia’s nuclear potential
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in an interview with Vietnamese and Japanese media that the United States aims to devalue Russia’s strategic nuclear potential, and that this is supported by the US’ deployment of global missile defense system, RIA Novosti reports.
“Everything that has been done by our US colleagues made us believe that the global system of missile defense was created not to confront threats emanating from Iran and North Korea, but to encircle Russia from all sides with these missile defense systems, which, according to our servicemen's estimations, is really aimed to devalue our strategic nuclear potential,” stressed Lavrov.
In early May 2017, the US military completed the installation of the THAAD missile defense system. Its deployment to South Korea drew criticism from China, Russia, and North Korea.