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Russia always knew that US missile defense was aimed against it and China — security chief

We cannot but respond to the threats emanating from NATO, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said

ULAN-UDE, June 25. /TASS/. Russia has always known that the US missile defence system is directed against it and China, and now this is confirmed, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said. "We did know that it [missile defence system] was aimed, first and foremost, at Russia and China, but these events, which are taking place now, confirm this," he said.

"We cannot but respond to the threats emanating [from NATO]," Patrushev told reporters.

Patrushev noted that NATO was approaching Russia’s border incorporating some former Soviet republics. "NATO has approached our borders, it is in close proximity to us," he said.

Patrushev added that when creating elements of its missile defence system in eastern Europe the United States said that the aim was the protection from the threat posed by Iran. "Now the attitude towards Iran has changed, it maintains bilateral relations with Tehran, and a group of six world powers is working with Iran," he noted, adding that in this connection it would be logical to abandon plans to build the costly missile defence system. However, this is not happening.