The Pentagon is considering re-deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe in response to allegations that Russia violated a nuclear treaty by deploying its own missiles, a Pentagon official told Congress on Wednesday, reported the New York Times.
Brian P. McKeon, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, reaffirmed that Russia violated a 1987 treaty signed between the two countries prohibiting the use of ground-launched intermediate-ranged cruise missiles based on land, and said the Pentagon is considering a number of options should Russia choose not to address the issue.
"Russia's lack of meaningful engagement on this issue - if it persists - will ultimately require the United States to take actions to protect its interests and security along with those of its allies and partners," McKeon told the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on strategic forces on Wednesday.
"Our strategy has two potential ends," he continued. "First, we seek to convince Russia to return to compliance because we believe preserving the treaty is in our mutual security interest. If Russia does not return to compliance, our end will be to ensure that Russia gains no significant military advantage from its violation."
Along with considering to re-deploy their own missiles back to Europe, McKeon said the Pentagon is considering deploying other cruise missile defenses and building up other military capabilities, ranging from "reactive defense, to counterforce, to counter value defense measures," according to The New York Times.
"We don't have ground-launched cruise missiles in Europe now obviously because they're prohibited by the treaty," McKeon said. "But that would obviously be one option to explore."
One official, Rose Gottemoeller of the State Department, said the U.S. is considering additional "economic measures," the Free Beacon reported.
Gottemoeller said that President Barack Obama has written a letter to Russian President Vladirmir Putin and other officials including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have contacted Russian officials as well.
American officials initially questioned Russia's actions in May 2013 and brought formal charges over the missile test violation in July.
Russia responded by accusing the U.S. of various violations as well, which McKeon denied.
