With the increasing prevalence of missiles, ballistic and otherwise, around the world, there has been a corresponding interest in missile-defense systems. The foremost proponent of such technology has been the United States.
As far back as the George W. Bush administration, US and NATO officials advocated a European missile-defense system to defend against Iranian launches. But the plan – which the Obama administration also supports, albeit in modified form – has irked Russia. The Kremlin says that the proposed system targets Russia and its large ballistic arsenal. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently reiterated that the system “does not threaten Russia,” reports Radio Free Europe.
And late last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Arab leaders to set in motion the creation of a Persian Gulf missile shield, also set against Iranian launches, reports The Washington Post. The US is planning the shield’s creation with several oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, which all already have US-made Patriot missile systems. The new shield would more closely coordinate the various countries’ defenses.
