Global Security Newswire

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced today that his country is willing to take part in the Obama administration's revised missile defense program for Europe, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Oct. 20).

"Poland feels this so-called SM-3 concept, a reconfigured antimissile system, is very interesting, and needed," Tusk said at a press conference in Warsaw with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden. "We are prepared to participate in it on the necessary scale."

Last month, the Obama administration decided to do away with its predecessor's plan to deploy 10 long-range missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic. Washington now intends in coming years to field sea- and land-based versions of the Standard Missile 3 system to protect Europe from possible short- and medium-range missiles launched from Iran. Some of the defenses could still be placed at Polish and Czech sites in 2015, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month.

"Poland is one of our closest allies, and a critical partner in facing global challenges," Biden said at the press conference.

"We appreciate that Poland stepped up and agreed to host an element of the previous missile-defense plan, and we now appreciate that the Polish government agrees with us that there is now a better way, with new technology and new information, to defend against emerging ballistic missile threats," he said.

The vice president added: "Our new phase-adapted approach to missile defense is designed to meet with a growing threat, not only to the United States but first and foremost to Europe" (Mary Sibierski, Agence France-Presse I/Google News, Oct. 21).

Polish President Lech Kaczynski yesterday told local media that he thought the new plan was "not bad" but that he intended to question Biden on the time line for deploying the SM-3 systems, AFP reported (Agence France-Presse II/Defense News, Oct. 20).

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is anticipating more information on its own role under the revised missile defense system. Biden is scheduled to travel to Prague later this week to share concrete details of the Obama administration's envisaged role for its NATO ally, RIA Novosti reported.

"The U.S. delegation has already presented new modified missile defense architecture on Sept. 17 in Prague," said Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar. "We said we were ready to further negotiate on the issue and are ready to take part in establishing a new modified missile defense system" (RIA Novosti, Oct. 20).