BRUSSELS, Feb 9: The United States wants to boost cooperation with Russia on short-and medium-range missiles, a senior Nato diplomat said on Monday, after Washington signalled a review of its missile shield plans.

“The administration is making a renewed offer, to say we would like to work with Russia on missile defence and we hope that Russia is more willing to discuss that,” the diplomat said.

He said Washington “genuinely wants to work with Russia on missile defence, believes that these threats, particularly the short- and medium-range ones, already exist.” ”We have a common interest with Russia in figuring out how to protect populations against these, we should be exploring how to do that,” he said.

The US has been negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic to install 10 missile interceptors, which would not carry explosive warheads, and a radar system on their territories. Russia sees the system as a threat to its security, while Washington argues the proposed shield is only directed at “rogue states,” primarily Iran.

Russia had threatened to deploy Iskander missiles at Kaliningrad if Washington did not halt its shield plans.—AFP