NATO will continue to develop own ballistic missile defense system, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated before the meeting with the new president of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, RIA Novost reported.

NATO has to continue to develop its ballistic missile defense system he said connection with a test of the ballistic missile by Iran.

At the same time Stoltenberg reiterated that the missile defense system of NATO is not directed against Russia and against threats outside the Euro-Atlantic region.

NATO's relations with Russia deteriorated in March 2014, after reunion of Crimea with Russia. At the same time the work of the NATO-Russia Council was suspended and the first meeting took place only in April 2016.