Global Security Newswire

Poland expressed hope yesterday that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama would move to field 10 missile interceptors on its territory as part of a planned European missile shield, Reuters reported (see GSN, Dec. 19, 2008).

"I hope the new administration of President-elect Barack Obama, led by strategic security considerations, will continue the installation of missile defenses," said Polish Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.

Obama, who is set to enter office Jan. 20, has said he wants to ensure that any missile defense system is proved effective prior to deployment. Russia has threatened to place short-range missiles along its borders with Poland and Lithuania if Washington moves to deploy the missile shield, which would also include a radar station in the Czech Republic (Jones/Baczynska, Reuters, Jan. 12).