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The Bush administration says it is not alarmed by
Russia's announcement it is developing a new nuclear missile. Russian
President Vladimir Putin says the program is part of efforts to improve
Russia's armed forces.
U.S. officials are not expressing any surprise or alarm over President
Putin's decision to develop new nuclear missiles.
State Department spokesman Adam Ereli says the Russian plans fall
within the framework of the Moscow Treaty, which calls for the mutual
reduction in strategic offensive weapons.
"So we do not perceive Russia's nuclear sustainment and modernization
activities as threatening," he said. "And, what they are doing are fully
consistent with our mutual obligations under the Moscow treaty."
Pentagon officials say they are not alarmed either and will wait to see
what is actually developed.
President Putin told a meeting of senior military leaders that Russia
cannot ignore international terrorist threats or the need to develop new
defenses.
"We will continue to build our armed forces and its nuclear
components," Mr. Putin said. "And they should be put into service in the
next few years. He added that the new missiles would be unlike any used by
other nuclear powers. "
Mr. Putin did not provide details.
His speech comes a few days before the Russian leader's meeting with
President Bush in Chile during the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation
conference.
Victor Kremenyuk is Deputy Director of the Institute of USA and Canada
Studies in Moscow. He says the new missiles do not pose a threat to the
United States.
"First of all I think that this is something which should be trusted
because, yes, the Russians have the possibility to develop new types
of weaponry in the strategic
area," he noted.
Mr. Putin's plans are seen as part of his effort to rebuild Russia's
military might, which deteriorated after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russia's defense minister has talked recently of plans to test-fire a
new version of its light-weight ballistic Topol-M missile soon. Russia is
also reported to be developing a new generation of heavy nuclear missiles
that could carry up to 10 nuclear
warheads. | 
