Poland and US sign defense deal
Poland and the US have signed an agreement to station elements of the US defense shield on Polish soil on Wednesday, a move that will further anger Russia.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled to Warsaw to sign an agreement that has been in the works since May of last year to place 10 interceptor rockets; part of a defense plan to shoot down ballistic missiles the US fears will be launched by "rouge" states.
"This is an agreement that will establish a missile defense site here in Poland that will help us to deal with the new threats of the 21st century, of long range missile…from countries like Iran or North Korea," Rice said during a press conference before the signing ceremony.
President Lech Kaczyński has called this day as a huge success for Poland. "I had few strategic aims during my five year term as President of Poland and one of them has been realized," he said.
However, Moscow has called this deal a threat to its security and accused Warsaw and Washington of speeding up negotiations as a response to Russia's military action in Georgia.
Rice and Kaczyński agree that the partnership between US and Poland is meant to deepen cooperation between the two countries and with NATO alliance. It's also meant to help both countries respond to incoming missile threats.
"Missile defense is of course aimed at no one. It's in our defense that we do this," said Rice.
Some Russian politicians and generals have said Poland must be prepared for a possible attack on the site in the future, a threat the US has dismissed.
The deal was signed by Rice and Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and was attended by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Lech Kaczyński.
The
agreement will now need to be ratified by the Polish parliament.
