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US to press NATO allies on missile defence options
Brussels (AFP) June 12, 2008 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will press NATO ministers to agree on options for a missile system capable of protecting all allies against Iranian missile strikes, a senior US official said Thursday. Gates arrived in Brussels Thursday for a two-day meeting of defence ministers that also will include discussions on Kosovo, Afghanistan, relations with Pakistan, and other security issues facing the 26-nation alliance. No major decisions were expected except on options for a NATO missile defence system that would extend coverage to countries not under the umbrella of a US system, the US defence official said. "That may be one of the few areas where there will be a decision," said the official who briefed reporters travelling with Gates on condition of anonymity. The planned deployment of US interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic would protect most of Europe against a missile launched from Iran, but not Turkey or portions of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. Acknowledging a growing missile threat to Europe, allied leaders meeting in Bucharest in April called for options for a complementary NATO system to be developed before the 2009 NATO summit. The official said a number of options already have been developed, but several fall short of extending coverage to all NATO countries. "Which means you have to kick a couple off because they don't meet (the tasking), and now you want further focused progress on those options that meet it so that those will be developed in time for the 2009 summit," the official said. The United States has still not finalised agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic for them to host the US missile defence installations. The Czech Republic has agreed in principle to hosting a radar, but is still negotiating a parallel status of forces agreement. The US official said Washington expects to sign both agreements by the end of the summer. "With the Poles we are not as far along as we are with the Czechs, although we hope to be able to sign something before the end of the summer," he said. The US missile shield plans have drawn the vehement opposition of Russia, which is sending its defence minister to Brussels on the second day of the meeting. "We do not have any indications what the Russians will come and say at this meeting," the US official said. Related Links Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Rice expected to sign Czech radar deal at start of July: report
Prague (AFP) June 11, 2008US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to sign an agreement with the Czech government to place a US anti-missile in the country in early July, CTK newsagency reported Wednesday. |
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