Russia is seeking ‘red button’ rights to a new US-backed missile defence system for Europe, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov has said.
“In practical terms, that means that our office will sit … and agree on a red button push to launch an interceptor missile, regardless of whether the missile is launched from Poland, Russia or the UK,” he added.
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Red button rights will allow Russia to influence the missile defence shield’s day-to-day operational use, according to the Telegraph.
Russia had earlier stated that its nuclear forces will be increased if it was excluded or granted only a junior role in the project.
The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates had offered to share information about the new system and to build a joint data centre with Russia.
The US-backed missile shield is to protect Europe and itself from long-range missile attacks from enemy states such as Iran.
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