Poles win pledge from Bush in return for missile shield

POLAND: PRESIDENT George Bush pledged yesterday to beef up Poland's defences against Russia in return for Warsaw agreeing to host a US base of interceptor rockets for Washington's missile defence project.

After talks in Washington with Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, Mr Bush said the Pentagon would help to modernise the Polish military, an issue that has threatened to torpedo, or at least delay, America's plans to extend the missile shield from California and Alaska to Poland and the Czech Republic.

While the details of the US offer remained unclear, Mr Bush's statement looked likely to push the project towards final agreement before he leaves office in January next year.

The Americans are in the final stages of negotiations with the Czech Republic over the installation of a radar base south of Prague to partner the missile silos in Poland.

Since coming into office a few months ago, the Tusk government, worried that it is exposing itself to Russian retaliation, has sought to negotiate much tougher terms for the US base.

Washington argues that the missile shield elements in Europe are directed at Iran. Russia maintains that it is the real target and has promised retaliatory action.

While the Poles, eager US allies, see the arrival of the first American military facilities in their country as a form of security guarantee, they are worried that they will be more vulnerable to Russia, and have been demanding Patriot or Thaad air defence rocket systems from the US.-

© 2008 Guardian Service

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times