MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Washington's latest decisions on the development of a new missile defense system won't help reduce tensions with Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday on the development of a new missile defense system for the country. The Iron Dome missile defense shield would protect against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles and other aerial attacks.

During her weekly briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that this initiative essentially reaffirms the U.S. intension to pursue the militarization of space, noting that the decision involves a significant expansion of the American nuclear arsenal.

"It directly envisages a significant strengthening of the American nuclear arsenal and means for conducting combat operations in space, including the development and deployment of space-based interception systems," she said.

"We consider this as yet another confirmation of the U.S. focus on turning space into an arena for armed confrontation," she further said.

Zakharova warned that the initiative would also hinder potential dialogue on strategic offensive arms, noting that this measure is the first sign of Washington's destabilizing plans for the development of its military-technical programs. Enditem

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