The third US test of the National Missile Defence (NMD) system, due to take place over the Pacific early this morning, may prompt countries to abandon existing nuclear arms treaties, a Russian commander warned yesterday.
"These tests mark the first step toward global nuclear instability," said Gen Vladimir Yakov lev, head of Russia's strategic missile defences. The tests are "an outrageous breach of the 1972 ABM agreement", Gen Yakovlev said.
Meanwhile, the US arms control negotiator, Mr John Holum, Under-Secretary of State for Security and Arms Control, reopened non-proliferation talks with China yesterday, signalling an end to a moratorium prompted by the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade more than a year ago.
The talks are designed to pave the way for a visit to China by the US Defence Secretary, Mr William Cohen.