| Summary: | The history of missile defense as an issue in Russia-U.S. relations is
already several decades long. Its current phase began in 2007 with the U.S.
decision to deploy its missile defense system in Central and Eastern Europe.
In this paper, a summary of the most significant moments in missile defense
development is offered being followed by the analysis of the issue regarding
its technological and political aspects. The basic argument is that the
absence of Russian-American deal on this issue is caused by the U.S. general
policy that is aimed at depriving Russia of its independent great power
status, which it does not want to give up. The U.S. missile defense, although
technologically incapable of hurting Russia, is seen by the latter as part of
a broader scope of Washington’s measures aimed against it. Meanwhile, as the
means of the American “cleansing“ of the “rogue“ regimes missile defense
indirectly threatens Russia accelerating its strategic encirclement. The
possibility of overcoming this issue as well as the U.S.-Russian
rapprochement is seen as a common threat which could be posed by the rising
China.
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