US missile base deal signed to further strain Moscow ties
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was today due to sign a deal with Poland that will see a US missile defence base built on the soil of the former Soviet satellite.
The deal to site ten US interceptor missiles at a base just 115 miles from Russia's westernmost frontier has further strained Moscow's ties with the West – already deeply troubled by Russia's conflict with Georgia.
Rice and her Polish counterpart, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, were due to sign the deal in the presence of both the Polish president and prime minister.
President Lech Kaczynski said it was "an important day in our history".
In a televised address last night, he said the deal strengthened Poland's position in the world.
The country has in recent years joined the European Union and Nato.
The US says the missile defence system is aimed at protecting the US and Europe from future attacks from states like Iran. It rejects Moscow's insistence that it is a threat to Russia.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Mystery after body discovered near West Highland Way
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Leveson inquiry: Tony Blair defends links with Rupert Murdoch
- Abu Qatada case stalls again but Olympics mean he must stay in prison
- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Jim McColl may back Scottish independence if third option omitted
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Rangers takeover: CVA bid ‘on track’ as date is set for 14 June
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
