BRUSSELS - NATO allies on Friday publicly raised concern about a Russian cruise missile system that the alliance says may break a Cold War-era pact banning such weapons, in a show of support for Washington. The United States believes Russia is developing a ground-launched cruise missile system with a range that is prohibited by a 1987 treaty, which could give Russia the ability to launch a nuclear strike on Europe on short notice. 'Allies have identified a Russian missile system that raises serious concerns,' the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said in a statement. 'NATO urges Russia to address these concerns in a substantial and transparent way, and actively engage in a technical dialog with the United States.' In a separate statement, the US envoy to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, said: 'Russia's behavior raises serious concerns.' Russia has denied it is violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)