|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
U.S. Conducts Talks on Europe Missile Defense Site
The United States is continuing talks with nations in Europe about deploying U.S. missile defense interceptors there, but no immediate decisions are expected, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, May 22). “We expect these consultations will continue in the coming weeks and months with countries that have expressed an interest,” said Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman. “We are collecting and evaluating information on a variety of sources prior to making any sort of a decision on whether or not to move forward on placing additional ballistic missile defenses in Europe.” The New York Times reported yesterday that Poland and the Czech Republic are among the nations being considered to house 10 interceptors. A Czech official said such consideration is “just an idea, there is no concrete proposal.” A Pentagon official last year said a European missile defense site, akin to the installation at Fort Greely, Alaska, could protect the United States and Europe against long-range missiles coming from the Middle East or North Africa. Radars would also be necessary for quick detection of incoming missiles, AFP reported. Russia has expressed strong reservations about the plan, particularly regarding the potential selection of Poland for the interceptor site. “This is not a proposal designed to counter Russia’s offensive missiles,” Whitman said. “When you’re talking about a small number of interceptors you wouldn’t be talking about the types of capabilities to counter Russian capabilities” (Jim Mannion, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, May 22).
| ||||||||||
Back to top
