European missile defense stalls Russia-NATO cooperation

The possible deployment of a NATO missile defense shield in Europe is the only disputable point between Russia and NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. "Regarding the missile defense issue, we believe in a fair deal which will be based on mutual security interests," Lavrov said, adding that this topic is the only disputable point between Russia and NATO. During the NATO-Russia Council in Sochi on July 4, the military bloc refused to provide legally binding guarantees that its missiles would not be directed against Russia, which Moscow says is the only way to prevent a new arms race. NATO also refused to agree to Russia's proposal for a so-called sector missile defense network in Europe. The alliance insists on establishing two independent systems that exchange information.