Russia, China call U.N. over U.S. missile launch
A U.S. cruise missile test-launched in California this week is setting off alarm bells on the global stage.
Russia and China have called for a United Nations Security Council meeting Thursday to air their objections to the test of the conventional medium-range missile, which analysts say could be adapted for nuclear weapons.
In a request to the Council, - seen by Reuters - the two nations said the launch and recent comments by the U.S. present "threats to international peace and security."
It's the first such launch since President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the landmark 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF, signed by then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan.
The pact had banned producing and testing land-based missiles with a range from 310 to 3,400 miles.
Trump and top aides insist Russia had already been violating the treaty, an accusation Moscow has denied.
Trump's rapid move to test a missile that would have been banned under the treaty, has raised fears of a new global arms race.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the U.S. was in a position to deploy the missiles in Europe.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:
"For us it means new threats. We must react accordingly."
The U.S. has said it has no plans to place the intermediate range missiles in Europe.
But Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the U.S. would favor placing ground-launched, medium-range missiles in Asia, to counter a growing military threat from China.
