Russia has expressed opposition towards the deployment of sea-based missiles and radars in Turkey’s Black Sea region, Russian envoy to Nato Dmitry Rogozin has said.

“The Black Sea has always been a sea of friendship and cooperation and it should remain so in the future,” he added.

“As a country that has outlets in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, Turkey would have to decide on whether to allow US sea-based missiles to be deployed there or not.”

The deployment of naval forces on Turkish territory is part of the planned US missile shield in Europe.

Russia has favoured a joint system with full-scale interoperability on the missile shield, but Nato has plans for two independent systems that exchange information, according to RIA Novosti.