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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| US and Poland sign defence deal | US and Poland sign defence deal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Poland has signed a preliminary deal with the US on plans to host part of the controversial US defence shield. | Poland has signed a preliminary deal with the US on plans to host part of the controversial US defence shield. |
| The proposal is for the US to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland in exchange for help strengthening Polish air defences. | The proposal is for the US to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland in exchange for help strengthening Polish air defences. |
| The US says the system will protect itself and Europe against long range missile attacks by "rogue states". | The US says the system will protect itself and Europe against long range missile attacks by "rogue states". |
| Correspondents say the deal is expected to heighten tension between the US and Russia, which has condemned the plans. | Correspondents say the deal is expected to heighten tension between the US and Russia, which has condemned the plans. |
| Moscow has said the project would upset the military balance in Europe and warned it would have no choice but to point its own missiles at the installations. | Moscow has said the project would upset the military balance in Europe and warned it would have no choice but to point its own missiles at the installations. |
| Relations between Washington and Moscow are currently strained over Russia's involvement in the conflict in Georgia. | Relations between Washington and Moscow are currently strained over Russia's involvement in the conflict in Georgia. |
| The BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw, says the agreement is bound to anger the Russians, who vehemently oppose the system. | The BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw, says the agreement is bound to anger the Russians, who vehemently oppose the system. |
| After Russia's involvement in Georgia, Polish officials said, Washington has come round to their way of thinking. | After Russia's involvement in Georgia, Polish officials said, Washington has come round to their way of thinking. |
| Unlike the US, Poland sees Russia as a bigger threat to its security than so-called "rogue states" such as Iran, our correspondent adds. | Unlike the US, Poland sees Russia as a bigger threat to its security than so-called "rogue states" such as Iran, our correspondent adds. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was reported to have cancelled a scheduled visit to Poland shortly after details of the deal with the US was made public. | |
| Modernisation | Modernisation |
| Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the agreement on national television shortly before it was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and US chief negotiator John Rood. | Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the agreement on national television shortly before it was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and US chief negotiator John Rood. |
| Mr Tusk said Washington had agreed to meet Warsaw's main demands in exchange for hosting the 10 interceptor missiles in a former military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast. | Mr Tusk said Washington had agreed to meet Warsaw's main demands in exchange for hosting the 10 interceptor missiles in a former military base near Poland's Baltic Sea coast. |
| In return, the US has agreed to help modernise the Polish armed forces and locate Patriot missiles and a garrison of US servicemen in Poland to beef up its air defences, Mr Tusk said. | In return, the US has agreed to help modernise the Polish armed forces and locate Patriot missiles and a garrison of US servicemen in Poland to beef up its air defences, Mr Tusk said. |
| Poland is reported to have demanded the extra security help as part of the deal after Moscow threatened to target its missiles at any eventual bases. | Poland is reported to have demanded the extra security help as part of the deal after Moscow threatened to target its missiles at any eventual bases. |
| The US signed an agreement with the Czech Republic in July to base tracking radars there as part of the missile defence system. | The US signed an agreement with the Czech Republic in July to base tracking radars there as part of the missile defence system. |
| The US wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012. | The US wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012. |