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"Reckless development of the missile defense system by the US could have dire consequences for the international security system not only in the Euro-Atlantic region but in the Asia-Pacific one as well," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that the US policy in this field has turned into "one of the major obstacles to the further nuclear disarmament" and created "dangerous conditions for a renewed arms race."
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The missile defense systems deployed across the world appear to be "parts of a dangerous global project aimed at ensuring the US overwhelming military superiority at the expense of other nations' security," the statement said. They "change the strategic balance of power in the field of offensive weapons" and pose "serious risks of global instability."

This missile defense "umbrella" could create "an illusion of invulnerability and impunity" in Washington, fueling "dangerous unilateral steps" in pursuit of its goals.

US blames others in attempts to conceal its own violations of international law

The US declares itself the "paragon of adherence to the international law" and never hesitates to judge whether other states fulfill their obligations - the real criteria being whether they serve American interests, the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement goes on. When accusing someone of violations, the US often "does not bother with providing any proof" and mixes "facts and speculations together."

"There is a growing number of reasons to believe that the real motive behind the US actions is... the fear that it would be exposed as [a nation] that throws baseless accusations at other countries... in attempt to conceal the numerous violations of international law in the field of arms control and non-proliferation committed by the US itself," the statement reads.

In the meantime, Washington de facto violated a number of major international treaties in the field of arms control, including the biological weapons convention and the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It also still has not ratified the agreement on the comprehensive ban of any nuclear weapons tests, while creating conditions for such testing, the Russian ministry said.

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Al-Jubeir's statement followed another one made by US President Donald Trump, who pointed out that "we've spent $7 trillion in the Middle East and we've got nothing for it. Nothing, less than nothing."

"The Saudi foreign minister's statement is nothing more but blackmail," Klintsevich said. "Saudi Arabia is pushing Qatar to take illegal actions," he added.

At the same time, he was doubtful that the United States really planned to withdraw from Syria any time soon, despite Trump's statements. "Saudi Arabia probably wants Qatar to join the operation alongside the US and not take its place, which is even stranger because Riyadh cannot but understand that it will only increase chaos and lead to new needless deaths," the Russian senator said, adding that in his view, the Saudis actually had other goals "that they prefer not to talk about."

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