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US Will Find Response to Russia's Kalibr Missiles - Under Secretary of State

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Trump administration is confident that it will secure the funds needed to respond appropriately to Russia's development of Kalibr missiles, Under Secretary Andrea Thompson said on Wednesday.
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"The president will fund every system that we need to ensure that we have security and safety of the American people and our partners and allies", Thompson told reporters during a video conference.

US Department of Defense will act accordingly, Thompson added.

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She also announced that the Pentagon would begin researching and developing intermediate-range missiles after the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and will consult with allies on how the new weapons will be used.

"Now the Department of Defense [DoD] will be able to to conduct those research and development activities banned under INF [Intermediate Nuclear Forces] treaty", Thompson said. "So DoD will start those steps on building those systems they couldn't before".

Russia to Develop Ground-Based Kalibr Missiles Amid INF Treaty Row - Minister
Allied and partner nations will be consulted before, during and after the process, Thompson concluded.

The statement comes a day after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a ground-based version of Kalibr sea-based complexes with a long-range cruise missile should be developed in 2019-2020 in response to the US decision to suspend its obligations under the INF) Treaty.

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