Missile Defense: Russia Threatens U.S. with Military Action

The missile defense system planned by the United States in Europe is to be located in the Czech Republic. Russia vehemently opposes such a deployment by the United States and has threatened military action, saying the proximity of such an American system weakens its own deterrence potential.

Russia has sharpened its tone in the argument against U.S. missile defense plans in eastern Europe. Russian leaders threaten military action against the planned development of a U.S. missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. “If a missile defense shield is actually stationed near our borders, we will be forced to react with military rather than diplomatic means,” the Russian Foreign Ministry declared on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had already signed an agreement in Prague allowing a radar system to be located in the Czech Republic.

Rice described the agreement allowing the stationing of the radar facility for the missile defense system in the Czech Republic as “important for the entire international community as a whole,” after meeting with Czech leader Mirek Topolanek. The United States plans to place ten interceptor rockets in Poland beginning in 2011 as well as placing the radar installation in the Czech Republic. No agreement has, however, yet been reached with Poland.

The planned defense system in eastern Europe is aimed primarily against Iran which continues its nuclear program despite pressures from the west. Implementation of the agreement hinges on the approval of a majority in both houses of the Czech parliament, something that is by no means yet assured.

Missile defense system weakens the Russian deterrence potential

A convergence of strategic U.S. weaponry near the Russian border would mean “without doubt a weakening of our deterrence potential,” according to a statement by the Russian foreign ministry. In such a case, Moscow would “take adequate measures to counter the threat to its national security.”

The agreement envisions that the Czech Republic would take part in preparations against a possible attack and would get preference in protection. The contract has no termination date and requires a notice period of one year. On Monday, the United States and Poland, meeting on short notice in Washington on the subject of the defense shield, had not yet reached any agreement. Poland has demanded, among other things, delivery of missile defense systems like the “Patriot” in return for allowing the stationing of American missiles on their territory.

German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung hopes for agreement with Moscow concerning the controversial plans. The subject will be taken up again in the NATO-Russia Council, he said in a statement at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He added that a split in the European Union over the plans had to be avoided.