Russia and China scold the United States over 'Golden Dome' plans
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- Russia issued a joint statement with China condemning the United States' "Golden Dome" missile defense project as a threat to strategic stability.
- China also criticized Washington for letting the 2010 New START treaty lapse without a replacement.
- United States's "Golden Dome" plan envisions an unlimited, multi‑level, global missile defence system that can intercept all missiles at any stage, which Russia and China say undermines strategic stability.
- Russia showed footage of troops delivering nuclear warheads to mobile Iskander‑M launchers during a joint nuclear exercise with Belarus.
- Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin in Beijing with an honour guard and gun salute, while children waved Chinese and Russian flags.
Why it matters: The US faces diplomatic pushback from its two biggest strategic partners, potentially complicating future arms control negotiations, raising the risk of an arms race, and increasing regional tension.
