Nato takes over US-built missile shield

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) took command of a US-built missile shield in Europe on Friday after France won assurances that the multi-billion-dollar system would not be under Washington's direct control.

The missile shield, billed as a defense against any strike by a "rogue state" against European cities, is one of the most sensitive aspects of US military support for Europe. Russia says the system is in fact intended by Washington to blunt its nuclear arsenal, which the US denies.

"Today we have decided to declare initial operational capability of the Nato ballistic missile defense system," Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was quoted by Reuters as telling a news conference.

"This means that the US ships based in Spain, the radar in Turkey and the interceptor site in Romania are now able to work together under Nato command and control," he said, adding that the umbrella was "entirely defensive" and "represents no threat to Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent".

European nations will be responsible for some funding and adding assets to the shield over time.

The system comes as Nato prepares a new deterrent in Poland and the Baltics following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia is reinforcing its western and southern flanks with three new divisions.

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