Russia's new Bastion mobile missile launchers have been deployed to the Russian outpost of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea,in addition to previously deployed nuclear-capable Iskander short range ballistic missiles and long range S-400 air defence missiles there,the Russian Interfax news agency announced on 21 November 2016.NATO responded by saying these anti-ship missiles are aggressive military posturing that doesn't help to lower tensions or restore predictability to our relations.*
For its part,the US State Department responded to Russia's recent military buildup in Kaliningrad during a daily briefing by spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby,US Navy Retired:
While we understand that Russia has the right to exercise its conventional and nuclear forces on its own territory,the deployment of Iskander and S-400 missiles to Kaliningrad is destabilising to European security.Russia has made threats to move Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad now for the past decade in response to a variety of developments in Europe,none of which demands such a military response.We also call on Russia to refrain from words or deeds that are not consistent with the goal of promoting security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region.*
Russia has also deployed Bastion missile launchers to the Syrian coast.Kaliningrad is between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coastline.Russia insists the buildup is only in response to NATO's positioning of US Navy land-based Aegis missile systems in Romania and under construction in Poland.
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