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| US, UK 'in missile defence talks' | US, UK 'in missile defence talks' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK and US governments have been holding discussions on the possibility of positioning a US anti-ballistic missile defence system on UK soil. | The UK and US governments have been holding discussions on the possibility of positioning a US anti-ballistic missile defence system on UK soil. |
| An article in The Economist claims UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has lobbied the US president for the system. | An article in The Economist claims UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has lobbied the US president for the system. |
| But government sources have told the BBC that talks are "to keep Britain's options open", not a lobbying effort. | But government sources have told the BBC that talks are "to keep Britain's options open", not a lobbying effort. |
| Russia said the system, which tracks and destroys missiles launched against the US, will trigger an arms race. | |
| Such a system uses radar and satellites to detect enemy missile launches and to guide interceptors to their targets. | Such a system uses radar and satellites to detect enemy missile launches and to guide interceptors to their targets. |
| Poland has recently confirmed that the US wants to negotiate the use of its territory to build part of its missile defence base. | Poland has recently confirmed that the US wants to negotiate the use of its territory to build part of its missile defence base. |
| How missile defence works | How missile defence works |
| The US has also asked permission from the Czech Republic and received the backing of Czech PM Mirek Topolanek. | The US has also asked permission from the Czech Republic and received the backing of Czech PM Mirek Topolanek. |
| In 2002, the US withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty it signed with the Soviet Union. | In 2002, the US withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty it signed with the Soviet Union. |
| It says a missile defence system could significantly reduce threats from so-called "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea. | It says a missile defence system could significantly reduce threats from so-called "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea. |
| The shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox, speaking on the BBC Today programme, called for the government to be 'honest' and lay out the risks and benefits that such a missile system would pose to the UK. |