They're really to counter threats from Russia. Satisfied?==
That is what Putin told all along. That is why he approved the development the new type on missile which is the nonballistic. ABM is committed against the ballistic missiles. Probably cann't counter same fast missiles which go on the nonballistic trajectory.
So what's a non-ballistic missile? Supersonic cruise missile?
The advantage of a ballistic missile is very high speed; reentry speed. You have very little time to react.
We could shoot down high speed cruise missiles decades ago.
Today, they'd be ducks in a pond for an airborne laser system.