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US and Poland sign defence deal US and Poland sign defence deal
(about 4 hours 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 its new missile defence shield.
The proposal is for the US to base 10 missile interceptors in Poland in exchange for help strengthening Polish air defences. Under the agreement, the US will install 10 interceptor missiles at a base on the Baltic coast in return 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 will upset the military balance in Europe and has warned it will be forced but to redirect its missiles at Poland.
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. We agreed this negotiating phase a week ago, which was... before the events in Georgia Radoslaw SikorskiPolish Foreign Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6720153.stm">Q&A: US missile defence class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/5106762.stm">Guide to planned US missile shield
After Russia's involvement in Georgia, Polish officials said, Washington has come round to their way of thinking. However, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the BBC's World Tonight programme that the timing of the deal had nothing to do with the hostilities.
Unlike the US, Poland sees Russia as a bigger threat to its security than so-called "rogue states" such as Iran, our correspondent adds. "We agreed this negotiating phase a week ago, which was... before the events in Georgia, and because of the US calendar there was some urgency," he said.
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. "But, what is crucial, and what decided the success of the talks over the last couple of days, was that the US offered us new proposals."
Unlike the US, Poland sees Russia as a bigger threat to its security than so-called rogue states such as Iran, the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is reported to have cancelled a scheduled visit to Poland shortly after the deal was announced.
ModernisationModernisation
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 had 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.
A White House spokeswoman said US President George W Bush "was very pleased with this development".
"In no way is the president's plan for missile defense aimed at Russia. In fact, it's just not even logically possible for it to be aimed at Russia given how Russia could overwhelm it," she told AFP.
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.