Annan appealed to all countries to avoid a new arms race and start negotiating irreversible disarmament agreements. Many of the United States' European allies have been skeptical of Bush's missile defense ideas since his election, fearing that such a system could start a new arms race by prompting both Russia and China to increase their nuclear arsenals. Neither Russia nor China commented immediately on Bush's Tuesday announcement, his first major defense address. He said that the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty with Russia, which sets strict limits on testing and deployment of antimissile systems, was a Cold War relic. Today's threats, he argued, come from hostile nations like Iraq, not from Russia.
Supporters view the ABM treaty as a cornerstone of international arms control agreements.
A statement from Prime Minister Tony Blair's office avoided endorsing the defense plan, but praised Bush's promise to work closely with Russia and U.S. allies. NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson responded similarly. Canada was more wary. Afterwards, Michael O'Shaughnessy, spokesman for Canada's department of foreign affairs, was noncommittal, but welcomed Bush's plans to work closely with Russia. Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation European Union, condemned the American plans.