Why is the U.S. Scrapping Missile Defense?

President Barack Obama announced on Thursday, September 17, a “new approach” to the U.S. anti-missile defense project in Europe. The radar shield is in fact a U.S. early warning system in case of an Iranian missile launch. The system consists of a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic and for counter-missiles to be deployed from Poland. The Pentagon has favorably reported a “slimmed down” response to potential Iranian threat, though still claims it remains of “importance.” Nonetheless, Washington has announced its clear intention to deploy missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic by 2015.

Laurence Nardon, researcher at the International Relations French Institute (IFRI)

“This decision is a turnaround in U.S. relations with Central Europe and Russia and comes as a result of the U.S.’s vision of the Iranian menace. The shield was originally intended to thwart a likely Russian threat, though it was never formally directed at Russia. In fact, the shield has never been a good prediction in improving strained relations between Moscow and Washington. Currently, the Obama administration is trying to soften the tone with many foreign partners, Russia among them, and expressed open intentions to restart negotiations with Moscow.

One has also to take into consideration the wishes of the Czech Republic and Poland to host American bases on their territory. Having U.S. bases is considered a point of pride for the nations and a protection against Russian influence. The U.S. decision to revoke the shield could well be a big disappointment for both countries.

This new attitude is also seen as a change in strategy since the George W. Bush era which was clearly opposed to “old” Europe (Western Europe) in favor of “new” Europe (Central Europe). Barack Obama certainly does not have the same vision.

The U.S. Wishes to Have Its Fingers in Many Pots

It’s high time the U.S. has decided to replace missile defense with a lighter system. This is quite indicative of how Washington sees the Iranian threat, since the missile shield was meant to protect the U.S. against possible Iranian missile attacks.

The U.S. intelligence reports have excluded the possibility that Iran would be working on developing long-range missiles, but rather medium- and short-range ones that are capable of targeting Israel, Turkey and other countries in the Middle East. This is a good justification to arm oneself with a smaller system, and the U.S. aims at keeping a policy of having its fingers in many pots.”