It is likely that Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, will view the ongoing differences of opinion over BMD as means to rally support against the West, as tensions over Ukraine escalate
The Russian and Iranian Missile Threats: Implications for NATO Missile Defense
As tensions rise over Ukraine, NATO is making preparations for the deployments of a ballistic missile defense (BMD) system in Romania in 2015 and in Poland in 2018. The United States and NATO claim that the missile defense shield is not directed at Russia, but is designed to deal with the dual threat of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction emanating from the Middle East. Russia, on the other hand, has consistently maintained that the anti-missile shield is directed at its own strategic nuclear forces, as NATO’s planned deployments in Eastern Europe reinforce the Kremlin’s resentment over what it perceives as Western penetration into its “near abroad.” The monograph provides an in-depth exploration of the ongoing controversy over the NATO BMD system in Europe and argues that the very high cost of maintaining the system is justified in terms of its ability to mitigate damage, provide greater flexibility for national leaders, strengthen the morale of vulnerable populations, and devalue the threats posed by revisionist states.
