Russia Challenges US Nuclear Ambitions in Asia-Pacific

Russia has asked the US to disclose any plans for deploying nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific, citing concerns over America's cooperation with Tokyo and Seoul. A Russian official highlighted the need for clarity amid growing military activities. US plans could provoke Moscow to strengthen its own nuclear deterrence in response.

Russia has demanded that the U.S. delegation to the UN disclose any plans for deploying nuclear weapons on the territories of Washington's allies in the Asia-Pacific region, the RIA news agency reported on Friday, citing a Russian official. "We remain concerned about contradictory signals from America's Northeast Asian allies, Tokyo and Seoul, regarding so-called increased co-operation with Washington in the nuclear sphere," RIA cited Anna Evstigneyeva, Russia's deputy representative to the UN, as saying.

A U.S. military commander spoke in April of plans to deploy missiles in the Indo-Pacific region in response to what Washington sees as growing Chinese militarisation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Thursday that Moscow may take extra steps in the area of nuclear deterrence if the United States deploys intermediate and short-range missiles in Europe and Asia.