A new arms race will erupt if Russia cannot agree with the West about a joint European missile defence program, according to Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian President.
A Nato summit this month proposed an alliance missile-shield plan and invited Russia to participate. Questions remain about possible joint command of such a system.
"In the next 10 years, the following alternatives await us – either we reach agreement on missile defence and create a full joint co-operation mechanism, or, if we don't go into a constructive agreement, a new phase of the arms race will begin. And we will have to make a decision on deploying new means of attack," Mr Medvedev said in his annual state address.
Mr Medvedev has already endorsed the Nato proposal. Experts from both sides are meeting before the end of the year to consider linking Nato's and Russia's separate systems to provide a shield against incoming missiles from rogue nations, and deliver a report to defence ministers in July.
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