Rice in Warsaw for defense deal

The U.S. and Poland have signed a deal to locate part of the U.S.'s controversial missile defense system on Polish soil. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the ceremony in Warsaw, which follows 18 months of negotiation. Rice in Warsaw for defense deal The deal has angered Russia, which has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike. Washington says the system will protect the U.S. and much of Europe against missile attacks from "rogue elements" in the Middle East such as Iran. While Washington believes placing 10 interceptor missiles on a disused military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast will protect much of Nato against possible long-range attacks, Warsaw sees threats much closer to home, says the BBC in Warsaw. That is why it has demanded - in exchange for hosting the base - short-range Patriot missiles for its own air defenses and a guarantee that the U.S. will come to its assistance in the event of an attack, our correspondent adds. The demands had delayed the deal's completion, but the conflict in Georgia gave the negotiations more impetus, says the BBC, who is traveling with Rice. "Exacerbating tensions" Both the U.S. and Poland say the system is not aimed against Russia. But the agreement has infuriated Moscow, our correspondent adds. Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished". "It is a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," he said. Moscow has argued the project will upset the military balance in Europe and has warned it will be forced to redirect its missiles at Poland. But Polish President Lech Kaczynski stressed the missile defense shield was purely a defensive system and not a threat. "For that reason, no-one who has good intentions towards us and towards the Western world should be afraid of it," he said on Wednesday. Last month, the U.S. signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to base tracking radars there as part of the missile defense system. The U.S. wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012.

Rice in Warsaw for defense deal

The deal has angered Russia, which has warned the base could become a target for a nuclear strike.

Washington says the system will protect the U.S. and much of Europe against missile attacks from "rogue elements" in the Middle East such as Iran.

While Washington believes placing 10 interceptor missiles on a disused military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast will protect much of Nato against possible long-range attacks, Warsaw sees threats much closer to home, says the BBC in Warsaw.

That is why it has demanded - in exchange for hosting the base - short-range Patriot missiles for its own air defenses and a guarantee that the U.S. will come to its assistance in the event of an attack, our correspondent adds.

The demands had delayed the deal's completion, but the conflict in Georgia gave the negotiations more impetus, says the BBC, who is traveling with Rice.

"Exacerbating tensions"

Both the U.S. and Poland say the system is not aimed against Russia.

But the agreement has infuriated Moscow, our correspondent adds.

Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said last week the plans for a missile base in Poland "could not go unpunished".

"It is a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," he said.

Moscow has argued the project will upset the military balance in Europe and has warned it will be forced to redirect its missiles at Poland.

But Polish President Lech Kaczynski stressed the missile defense shield was purely a defensive system and not a threat.

"For that reason, no-one who has good intentions towards us and towards the Western world should be afraid of it," he said on Wednesday.

Last month, the U.S. signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to base tracking radars there as part of the missile defense system.

The U.S. wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012.