Washington could be putting itself at peril by helping allies develop missiles — expert

BEIJING, September 18. /TASS/. By supporting its allies to develop their missile capabilities, the US could, in the long run, be shooting itself in the foot, Dmitry Stefanovich, a research fellow at the Center for International Security at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), told TASS on the sidelines of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on international security.

"In fact, we are witnessing a sort of missile renaissance. Countries are turning a blind eye to all the regimes that were designed to curb missile proliferation when it comes to supporting their allies and trying to create problems for their adversaries," the expert said.

Stefanovich pointed out that a number of US allies in Asia and Europe are moving to develop or acquire their own missile systems with comparable capabilities.

"This will, of course, come back to haunt us and the Chinese--given what is emerging among America’s allies right on our borders--as well as the Americans themselves, because historically, we see that allies aren't forever," he emphasized.

Stefanovich noted that history shows that when external actors assist third countries develop armaments, military equipment and scientific and technological capabilities, they are often ultimately deployed against the very states that helped create them.