Missile Shield

Poland signs missile shield deal with U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, Wednesday signed a formal agreement to base U.S. ballistic missile interceptors in the country.

Before they met, Polish President Lech Kaczynski called the deal a "huge success" for Poland and expressed gratitude to the United States, which he called the most powerful country in the world.

Rice hailed the agreement as a testament to the strategic cooperation and friendship between the United States and Poland.

She said specifically that the missile defense system is aimed at addressing the threat of long- and medium-range missiles from North Korea and Iran, but she also pointed out that the system is defensive and "not aimed at anyone."

That deal, however, has angered Russia, which says the missile-defense system is aimed at blunting Russia's nuclear deterrent. Moscow has warned the deal could open Poland up to attack.

Tensions with Russia are already running high over its territorial conflict with Georgia.

The United States and its NATO allies have accused Moscow of being heavy-handed by occupying parts of Georgia after moving into the breakaway territory of South Ossetia.

Russia says it is protecting its citizens in South Ossetia against a Tbilisi clampdown on separatists and has warned that the region is unlikely to be reunited with the rest of Georgia.

(Published by CNN News - august 20, 2008)