Russia’s test of a new nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile is not considered a threat by the United States and its allies, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Moscow “duly notified” to Washington about the test under its nuclear treaty obligations, so “it was not a surprise”, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. The Pentagon “has not considered the test to be a threat to the United States or its allies”, he told reporters.
The Russian military announced on Wednesday that it had successfully fired for the first time the new generation, very long-range Sarmat missile, hailed by President Vladimir Putin as “a unique weapon (…) that will ensure Russia’s security against external threats” causing potential opponents to think twice before acting against Moscow’s interests.
Asked about Putin’s comments, a senior US defense official said Wednesday that they were from “little use.”
“We find that rhetoric to be unhelpful, given the current context of things, and certainly not the kind of thing we would expect from a responsible nuclear power, especially in the current environment,” the official opined.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the test took place at 3:12 p.m. local time (12:12 GMT) and hit a target more than 5,000 kilometers away.
Weighing more than 200 tons, the Sarmat is supposed to outperform its predecessor, the Voevoda missile, which has a range of 11,000 km.
Source: Gestion
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