Poland agrees to host U.S. shield

Poland and the U.S. have reached an agreement in principle to install an American missile defense system on Polish soil. In return for hosting part of the shield, the U.S. has said it will help bolster Poland's air defenses. Poland agrees to host U.S. shield The U.S. wants to install interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic. Russia opposes the project, saying it would destabilize global security and undermine its own nuclear deterrent. In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the plans to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s, which saw the U.S. and Soviet Union go to the brink of nuclear war. Russia has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US positions elements of the new missile shield near its borders. In response to this threat, Poland says it wants help to upgrade its air defenses. Speaking in Washington, Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorsky said he was satisfied that the security concerns Poland had raised would be dealt with. "There is still a great deal of work for our experts... But yes, I am satisfied that the principles that we have argued for have been accepted," he said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "We understand that there is a desire for defense modernization in Poland and particularly for air defense modernization in Poland. This is something that we support because it will make our ally, Poland, more capable." America wants to install 10 interceptor missiles to protect against possible attack by what it calls rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea. But Sikorsky said there was still a long way to go. "We are not at the end of the road as regards negotiations. We are in the middle of the road," he said. "We have an agreement in principle." Any final agreement will have to be ratified by the Polish parliament. The Czech government aims to submit a draft accord on the radar base to parliament in April.

Poland agrees to host U.S. shield

The U.S. wants to install interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic.

Russia opposes the project, saying it would destabilize global security and undermine its own nuclear deterrent.

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the plans to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s, which saw the U.S. and Soviet Union go to the brink of nuclear war.

Russia has threatened to point missiles at Europe if the US positions elements of the new missile shield near its borders.

In response to this threat, Poland says it wants help to upgrade its air defenses.

Speaking in Washington, Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorsky said he was satisfied that the security concerns Poland had raised would be dealt with.

"There is still a great deal of work for our experts... But yes, I am satisfied that the principles that we have argued for have been accepted," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "We understand that there is a desire for defense modernization in Poland and particularly for air defense modernization in Poland. This is something that we support because it will make our ally, Poland, more capable."

America wants to install 10 interceptor missiles to protect against possible attack by what it calls rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea.

But Sikorsky said there was still a long way to go.

"We are not at the end of the road as regards negotiations. We are in the middle of the road," he said.

"We have an agreement in principle."

Any final agreement will have to be ratified by the Polish parliament.

The Czech government aims to submit a draft accord on the radar base to parliament in April.