The United States yesterday rejected a report that it had scrapped its predecessor's plan to deploy missile defenses in Europe, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Aug. 27).
The Bush administration plan called for placing 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar installation in the Czech Republic. Russia characterized the initiative as a threat to its strategic security and threatened to deploy short-range missiles near Poland if it went through.
Since taking office in January, the Obama administration has sought to "reset" diplomatic relations with Moscow.
The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza reported that sources said that Washington was looking at an alternative plan that could involve sea-based systems or fielding missile defenses in Israel, Turkey and the Balkans as a shield against Iran's growing missile capabilities.
"I would call that report inaccurate," said State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley. "Our review of our missile defense strategy is ongoing and has not reached completion yet" (Agence France-Presse/Novinite.com, Aug. 27).