Polish foreign minister presses demands in Washington for allowing missile defense system

Radek Sikorski plans to make his case with senior officials including Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates during his first visit as a minister in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government.

Since becoming foreign minister, Sikorski has argued for asking more from Washington in exchange for Poland's support in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the missile defense system the Bush administration plans to install in Poland and the neighboring Czech Republic.

More than the previous government, Tusk's administration, which took office in November, has expressed skepticism about the U.S. missile defense plans. Former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski opened talks with the United States early last year and firmly supported the plan. Sikorski once served as defense minister under Kaczynski but left amid disagreements.

Poland now is asking the United States to strengthen Poland's short- and mid-range air defenses - Patriot or THAAD missiles - as part of a deal that would place intercepters in silos in Poland. But the United States has so far appeared unwilling to agree to the suggestion.

The proposed missile defense site has angered Russia, which says an installation so close to its border threatens its security and has warned that its missiles could target the base in Poland. The plan also would install radar arrays in the Czech Republic.

Poland's support of the Iraq and Afghanistan missions also is likely to come up in the meetings.

Tusk's government has decided to withdraw Poland's remaining 900 troops from Iraq by the end of October, ending a five-year mission.

However, it also plans to send an additional 400 troops to Afghanistan this spring to raise the Polish contingent there to 1,600.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email