Moscow, May 4 (Interfax) - NATO will unlikely be able to develop its own missile defense shield in the foreseeable future, Russia's envoy to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin said.
"Proposals that have already been formulated are important political declarations, which, however, have no technological support," Rogozin said during a TV link-up from Brussels on Tuesday.
NATO member states simply do not have technological possibilities to create a full-fledged missile defense system, he said.
"In fact, only the U.S. and the Russian Federation currently have technologies capable of reliably intercepting ballistic missiles," the official said.
This is one of the reasons behind attempts of certain European countries, primarily those in East Europe, to join the U.S. missile defense shield, Rogozin said.
"Several NATO member countries are now proposing allowing the U.S. to deploy its sensors or interceptor missiles on their territory. It is very difficult for them to enter this configuration in a different way," he said.
The idea of building NATO’s missile defense shield will not be discussed during a May 5 visit to Brussels by Russian Armed Forces General Staff chief Nikolai Makarov, Rogozin said.
"We will address this issue when NATO acquires all the necessary possibilities," he said.
