DISINFO: The anti-missile system in Romania can also become offensive
SUMMARY
Anti-missile systems in Romania and those to be installed in Poland may be used for offensive purposes.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin narrative about the deployment of missile defence systems in Romania and Poland, in line with the encircling Russia and aggressive NATO narratives. In fact, both Romania and Poland agreed to host missile defence systems. In 2010, Romania agreed to host Standard Missile 3 interceptor. The MK-41 launcher used at the Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence system deployed in Romania is only capable of launching defensive interceptor missiles. Russians have long claimed that the MK-41 VLS system allows Aegis Ashore to also launch ground-based cruise missiles. The accusation has been categorically rejected by Washington and NATO, which say the system does not have the software or the hardware needed to launch offensive ballistic or cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk, and its role is only to intercept missiles. Poland and the US signed agreement on the deployment of ground-based ballistic missile defence interceptors on the territory of Poland in 2008, but the project was cancelled following a fierce response from the Polish government.