NATO shield poses threat to Serbia, expert says

The U.S. missile bases in Romania could represent a threat to Serbia since it could end up being a collateral damage in a possible missile attack. Only two days after the agreement had been signed to set up the U.S. missile shield in the U.S. Deveselu Air Base, Washington signed an agreement on September 15 to build an identical base in Poland. NATO shield poses threat to Serbia, expert says Russia has stated it will take reciprocal measures and direct its missiles toward the bases hosting the NATO missiles. “We are living in a period when a new cold war is being waged. There are numerous reasons to set up the missile shield along Russia’s borders, and the most important one is to prove economic and military power of the U.S. and NATO countries to everybody in the international community. A strategic consequence of the missile shield is to impose a need on Russia to build a new missile defense system which costs a lot, with an aim to economically drain it. The second important goal is an internal polarization of population in Russia,” Faculty of Security Studies Professor Slobodan Misovic told daily Vecernje novosti. “Setting up of the missile shield less than 200 kilometers from Serbia has a large negative affect on security and increases our country’s vulnerability,” the professor explained. “This is especially the case because our antiaircraft defense systems are outdated. Setting up of the missile shield is a provocation of all the countries in the South East Europe and the Balkans, because it requires far bigger financial expenses if you want to maintain security at the necessary level. It will probably cause additional conditions and pressures in our country because of the membership in NATO and in the European collective security and defense system,” he pointed out. Misovic believes that the missile shield in Romania will force Serbia to make a difficult choice – to decide not to invest in defense and additionally reduce security or to increase financial expenses. “NATO will not pressure Serbia into formally joining the Alliance after the missile shield is set up in Romania,” he said, adding that the purpose of the missile shield was to exert psychological and economic pressure on Russia, not to start a nuclear war. “However, the one that has power has a big problem because it is always tempting them to use it. In case of a large-scale conflict Serbia could easily become a collateral damage, not only because of the missile shield in Romania but also because of the U.S. bases in Kosovo. However, much bigger danger for the entire South East Europe in that case would be if Klozoduy Nuclear Power Plant was hit,” the professor was quoted as saying.

NATO shield poses threat to Serbia, expert says

Russia has stated it will take reciprocal measures and direct its missiles toward the bases hosting the NATO missiles.

“We are living in a period when a new cold war is being waged. There are numerous reasons to set up the missile shield along Russia’s borders, and the most important one is to prove economic and military power of the U.S. and NATO countries to everybody in the international community. A strategic consequence of the missile shield is to impose a need on Russia to build a new missile defense system which costs a lot, with an aim to economically drain it. The second important goal is an internal polarization of population in Russia,” Faculty of Security Studies Professor Slobodan Mišović told daily Večernje novosti.

“Setting up of the missile shield less than 200 kilometers from Serbia has a large negative affect on security and increases our country’s vulnerability,” the professor explained.

“This is especially the case because our antiaircraft defense systems are outdated. Setting up of the missile shield is a provocation of all the countries in the South East Europe and the Balkans, because it requires far bigger financial expenses if you want to maintain security at the necessary level. It will probably cause additional conditions and pressures in our country because of the membership in NATO and in the European collective security and defense system,” he pointed out.

Mišović believes that the missile shield in Romania will force Serbia to make a difficult choice – to decide not to invest in defense and additionally reduce security or to increase financial expenses.

“NATO will not pressure Serbia into formally joining the Alliance after the missile shield is set up in Romania,” he said, adding that the purpose of the missile shield was to exert psychological and economic pressure on Russia, not to start a nuclear war.

“However, the one that has power has a big problem because it is always tempting them to use it. In case of a large-scale conflict Serbia could easily become a collateral damage, not only because of the missile shield in Romania but also because of the U.S. bases in Kosovo. However, much bigger danger for the entire South East Europe in that case would be if Klozoduy Nuclear Power Plant was hit,” the professor was quoted as saying.