The Kremlin said on Wednesday the opening of a new U.S. missile base in Poland was part of an attempt to contain Russia by moving American military infrastructure closer to its borders.
The U.S. base at Redzikowo is part of a broader NATO missile shield dubbed "Aegis Ashore", which the alliance says is capable of intercepting short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had objected to plans for the base as far back as the 2000s, when George W. Bush was U.S. president.
He said Putin had insisted at the time the United States was lying when it said the purpose was to intercept potential Iranian missiles.
"This is confirmation that President Putin was right. These plans continue to be implemented. This is the advancement of American military infrastructure on European territory towards our borders," Peskov said.
"This is nothing other than an attempt to contain our military potential and, of course, this leads to the adoption of appropriate measures to ensure parity."
Peskov did not say what measures Russia might take in response.
