US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right). Picture: AFP/Don Emmert and Natalia Kolesnikova

America’s ABM systems are stationed at sites across Europe and on battleships that patrol Russian borders, The Sun reports.

But it has riled Kremlin hawks who say it is a threat to world peace and could spark an arms race among world superpowers.

Russia claims the US has sparked an arms race by stationing antimissile systems near its borders. Pictured: US President Donald Trump (left), Russian President Vladimir Putin (right). Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

According to RT, Viktor Poznikhir, deputy head of operations of the Russian general staff, said: “The presence of American ABM sites in Europe and ABM-capable ships in the seas and oceans close to Russia’s territory creates a powerful clandestine potential for delivering a surprise nuclear missile strike against Russia.”

He added: “We are calling for an equitable and constructive dialogue on antimissile issues aimed at searching for the solutions that take into account the interests of all the parties concerned.”

Russia was “forced to take adequate countermeasures aimed at preventing the existing possible damage to the security of the state as a result of the further build-up of the US ABM capabilities”.

An aerial view shows a protest at the site of a recently installed anti Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in Seongju. Picture: AFP/Ed JonesSource:AFP

Last month, US President Donald Trump said he wanted to make the US “top of the pack” when it came to national nuclear arsenals.

Speaking from his desk in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said China could solve the national security challenge posed by North Korea “very easily if they want to”, heaping pressure on Beijing to exert more influence to control Pyongyang.

The president also said he was “very angry” at North Korea’s ballistic missile tests, and said accelerating a missile defence system for Japan and South Korea — two US allies — was one of many options on offer.

NUNES WON’T LEAVE RUSSIA PROBE

House intelligence chairman Devin Nunes has rebuffed growing demands to recuse himself as head of the Russia investigation, saying: “Why would I?”

The calls for him to resign came after revelations about his meeting with a secret source on White House grounds raised questions about his and the panel’s independence.

Mr Nunes said the pressure for him to resign was typical of politics.

“It’s the same thing as always around this place — a lot of politics, people get heated, but I’m not going to involve myself with that,” he said.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Representative Devin Nunes rebuffed calls to step aside from the Russia investigation. Picture: AP Photo/J. Scott ApplewhiteSource:AP

House Speaker Paul Ryan continued to express confidence in Mr Nunes, saying there is no need for the chairman to resign.

Mr Nunes acknowledged on Monday that he reviewed intelligence reports at the White House complex and met a secret source behind his statement that communications involving associates of Mr Trump were caught up in “incidental” surveillance.

The Republican congressman’s disclosure prompted the top Democrat on the committee, Representative Adam Schiff, as well as the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, to call on Mr Nunes to recuse himself from the committee’s Russia probe.

Mr Schiff said Nunes’ connections to the White House have raised insurmountable public doubts about whether the committee can credibly investigate the president’s campaign associates.

FORD INVESTING IN US AUTO PLANTS

Ford has announced plans to invest $US1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in three Michigan plants, part of a deal with its workers’ union struck in 2015.

Mr Trump, who has repeatedly singled out the auto industry and pressured them to keep plants and jobs in the country, foreshadowed the news in a morning tweet.

“Big announcement by Ford today. Major investment to be made in three Michigan plants. Car companies coming back to U.S. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!,” the president tweeted.

However, United Auto Workers, the union representing Ford’s workers, had secured a commitment from the company for $US9 billion ($11.8 billion) in investments in US plants, as part of its 2015 labour contract agreement.

The Trump administration took at least partial credit for the news, but Ford and UAW clearly credited their 2015 labour agreement.

“Thanks to collective bargaining, the hardworking men and women at each of these locations will now reap the full fruits of their labour,” UAW-Ford Vice President Jimmy Settles said in a statement.

WHITE HOUSE PLACED ON LOCKDOWN

The White House was briefly placed on lockdown after a “suspicious package” was discovered on Tuesday.

Secret Service agents reportedly cleared all media and visitors from the North Lawn, with snipers seen roaming the Presidential property.

The US Secret Service said: “Secret Service investigating suspicious package near White House grounds. Road closures in effect.”

Journalist Andrew Feinberg tweeted: “White House on lockdown at 10:25am (1:25am AEDT) for a ‘suspicious package’ per Secret Service Uniformed Division office.”

Two hours later, he tweeted: “Lockdown lifted at 11:37AM. All clear now.”

— With The Sun.