Reference Message Network reported on May 22 that the website of the Carnegie International Peace Institute published an article titled "What Does America's 'Gold Dome' Missile Defense System Mean for Russia?" on May 19. The author is James Brown, a political science professor at Temple University. The main content is compiled as follows: Just one week after President Trump took office in January this year, he issued an executive order requiring the deployment of a new missile defense system called "American Iron Dome." So, what does this project mean for Russia? Long skeptical about nuclear weapons, Trump hopes that the "Gold Dome" will allow the U.S. to reduce its reliance on nuclear weapons. This is because if the U.S. has reliable means to ensure that all attacks on its territory fail (negative deterrence), it does not need such great ability to strike opponents (punitive deterrence). Needless to say, Moscow's strategists do not see it this way. In 2002, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Since then, Russian officials have continuously warned of the disruption to global stability caused by missile defense. They are concerned that with secure defensive protection, other countries may not be able to contain American aggression. Washington's response has always been that its missile defense is only aimed at limited threats from North Korea and Iran, and fundamentally undermines Russia's vast and advanced arsenal. This view has never been fully accepted by Moscow, and it has now also been abandoned by the U.S. The "Gold Dome" missile defense system represents a transformative change in U.S. policy, targeting not only "rogue adversaries" but also "near-peer" and "almost near-peer" nations. Therefore, Russia needs to respond. This will require accelerating existing efforts, replacing Soviet-era delivery systems with newer designs, and modernizing all aspects of the nuclear triad. We can also expect renewed emphasis on exotic weapons that have the potential to bypass all imaginable missile defense systems. Another possible reaction from Russia could be doubling down on anti-satellite nuclear weapons. The advantage of these weapons lies in their ability to quickly destroy large numbers of American military satellites. Thus, the "Gold Dome" will force Russia into a new arms race, compelling the country to allocate more resources to strategic forces when it can least afford to. Ultimately, the "Gold Dome" may never achieve Trump's grand ambitions. However, even so, it will have serious consequences for strategic stability. (Compiled/translated by Zhao Feifei) Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507166612055704076/ Disclaimer: The article solely represents the views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.