Russia is ramping-up its rhetoric against the U.S. ballistic missile shield protecting Europe from Russian nuclear and non-nuclear missiles, and against which Russia has no adequate counter-solution, alleging it brings the world closer to a nuclear war.

"The anti-missile umbrella may increase the illusion of invulnerability and impunity and lead to temptation of taking unilateral steps in the resolution of global and regional problems," said Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

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The deployment of the U.S. global missile system to Europe might reduce the threshold of the use of nuclear weapons, Lavrov added.

He contends the unilateral deployment of the European segment of the U.S. global missile system is changing balance of forces in favor of the U.S. and NATO. This missile system "is a serious obstacle on the way of consolidation of political stability," argued Lavrov.

Moscow claims the U.S.'s missile defense system could encourage Washington to pursue unilateral action through nuclear force.

Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, first deputy chief of the General Staff's Main Operational Department, said computer simulations showed the European leg of the U.S.'s global missile shield was aimed at Russia and China, presenting a serious threat to Moscow's national security.

He also said such sprawling weapons systems could be seen as a shield to allow the U.S. to launch an unexpected nuclear attack against Russia.

"The presence of U.S. missile defense bases in Europe, missile defense vessels in seas and oceans close to Russia creates a powerful covert strike component for conducting a sudden nuclear missile strike against the Russian Federation," said Gen. Poznikhir.

The NATO Missile Defense System Russia is riling against includes radar systems and missile interceptors already deployed to Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey and the Czech Republic. The U.S. Navy has deployed four Aegis-capable Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers to Spain as part of the ballistic missile defense shield.

Norway will join the NATO Missile Defense System that better protects the alliance's member states from Russian ballistic missile attacks by 2018 at the earliest.

Media reports said the analysis group from the Norwegian Armed Forces and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency will likely advise the right-wing Norwegian government headed by Prime Minister Erna Solberg to commit Norway to joining the defense system.