European Missile Defense System Is Limited, No Threat to Russia

26 August 2008

(Polish missile site will be linked to other missile defense sites)

By Merle D. Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington -- The development of a limited ballistic missile defense system in Europe creates an important capability for NATO allies that poses no threat to Russia, says a senior U.S. diplomat.

"It can defend against all long-range missile launches" from a rogue state, but for example, the system would not be able to protect against shorter-range missile launches from the same state, John Rood, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security, said at an August 25 briefing.

Poland and the United States signed an agreement August 20 to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland. On July 8, the Czech Republic and the United States signed an agreement to place an advanced radar system in the Czech Republic. That agreement must be approved by the Czech parliament.  The system would be fully operational by 2012.

"It is an agreement which will help us to respond to the threats of the 21st century," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at the signing ceremony.

The interceptor site will be linked to other U.S. missile defense facilities in Europe at Fylingdales in Britain and at Thule Air Base in Greenland, and linked to command-and-control elements in the United States, Rood said.

In exchange for Poland’s agreement to host the interceptors, the United States agreed to provide Poland with a Patriot air defense battery operated by about 100 U.S. Army personnel, who will be moved from their current base in Germany, Rood said.

Rood emphasized that Russian officials have been kept informed about the fielding of the limited missile defense system from the outset.  And Russia had been invited to participate in the system, he said.

"We would have liked to have pursued a partnership in that area with Russia," Rood said.  "For our part, we're prepared to be constructive."

Rood said the agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic allow for the possibility of Russian inspection of the system as it is installed.  Details of that still would need to be negotiated, he said.