Financial Times: Prague Warns of Kremlin Ambition
July 20, 2007 :: Financial Times :: News
Czech government officials have recently made a series of noteworthy observations about Russian foreign policy and influence in Europe. The Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg commented that while Russia is not an imminent threat, it could become one within the decade.
Maybe Russia will be a threat once more... In the last few months there have been some rather surprising occurrences... Russia would like to achieve the same status [vis-a-vis America] that the former Soviet Union had. Then the two of them, Washington and Moscow, would be the two to decide European issues. I am very sorry, but we consider that is our affair too.
In separate comments, an independent member of the Czech government Prince zu Schwarzenberg concurred with the Foreign Minister's statement while speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
We can understand that Russia is claiming its former position of superpower... However, we are scared by a strategy oriented more on prestige and on building military might instead of investing in civil infrastructure. With this strategy, I am afraid that Russia will once again end up as a giant with feet of clay... The Russians have always thought much more in long-term and strategic considerations than other European states. Other European states [go] from one election to another, and think more about tactics.
Both officials agreed that Europe must acquire energy independence to preserve its full independence. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Russia
Polish President Says System "A Foregone Conclusion"
July 18, 2007 :: News
Speaking at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during a visit to see American missile defense interceptors in place, Polish President Lech Kaczynski told reporters that "the matter of the [placement of U.S. interceptors in Poland] is largely a foregone conclusion." "There will be the shield because for Poland it's a very good thing," Kaczynski said. The President's comments come while the U.S. and Poland are technically still engaged in negotiations over the interceptors. The President's comments prompted criticism from Polish lawmakers. "Saying the matter is a foregone conclusion is shocking," said Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, a Polish member of parliament. "It means the next stage of the negotiations will only be pretending." Many Poles had hoped that during the negotiating process, the U.S. could make concessions such as giving Poland Patriot missile defenses. The U.S. wants to place ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland as part of a new missile defense system in Europe to defend against a missile attack from Iran. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, European Missile Defenses
Obama Statement on Visit of Polish President
July 18, 2007
Senator and Presidential candidate Barak Obama issued a statement July 18 welcoming Polish President Lech Kaczynski to the United States. After briefly commenting upon the historic relationship between the two countries since the American Revolutionary War, Senator Obama suggested five points of how the U.S. and Poland could deepen their relationship. On the subject of missile defense, he argued that the U.S. and Poland should cooperate with missile defense issues only when the technology is effective, suggesting the Ground Based Interceptors being discussed for Poland are not.
The full text of Obama's remarks: (More »»»)
» More stories on: Allies
Ukraine Hints May Back Russian Missile Shield Plan
July 12, 2007 :: News
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko suggested that Ukraine could support a Russian plan for an international ballistic missile defense system. "Let me, on behalf of the Ukrainian state, say that we view positively any system which would broaden the possibilities of collective security," Yushchenko told the Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta when asked about Putin's counter-proposals.
The current U.S. plan to install components of a ballistic missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic has angered Russia, which sees the system as a threat to its strategic offensive nuclear deterrent and its regional influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin detailed the elements of his counter-proposal at a summit at the Bush family home in Kennebunkport Maine in early July, which would use radar facilities in Azerbaijan and Russia and defend both Europe and Russia. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies
Japan, U.S. Hold Missile Defense Drill
July 10, 2007 :: News
On July 6, Japan and the United States held a joint missile defense exercise in an undisclosed location "at sea and in air around Japan." The exercise combined four Aegis-radar equipped destroyers (three from the U.S. and one from Japan) and early warning aircraft while cooperating in target-tracking and information-sharing.
Tokyo and Washington are developing an advanced missile defense system to guard against a possible missile attack from North Korea. Japan deployed its first advanced U.S.-developed Patriot missiles this year, and plans to introduce SM-3 interceptors on its destroyers in the next few years. The next regional missile defense exercise is scheduled for November. (Article, Link)
» July 11, 2007: Japan Times on sensitive disclosure from missile drill
» More stories on: Japan, Allies
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Russia Threatens Missile Deployment in Kaliningrad
July 6, 2007
On July 4, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov warned that Russia could deploy medium-range missiles in the Kaliningrad oblast in Europe if the United States turns down Russia's proposals on anti-missile defense in Europe. Russia has opposed a current U.S. plan to place ten Ground Based Interceptors in Poland and an X-Band radar facility in the Czech Republic. Russia claims that the plan is devised to blunt Russia's influence in the region and diminish its strategic nuclear deterrent. As a possible compromise, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the U.S. use a share a pre-existing radar facility in Azerbaijan and an additional facility in Southern Russia. Putin also suggested the system should exist within the Russia-NATO Council, with centers in Moscow and Brussels. The U.S. has thus far welcomed the proposal as a possible complement to its existing plan, but not as a substitute.
Ivanov suggested that, by turning down Russia's proposal, offensive medium range (500km) Iskander-K missiles would be placed in the Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania. Lithuania is so far responding calmly to Ivanov's threat. Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekunas, and the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Justinas Karosas have stressed the threat is purely hypothetical, but that Lithuania, the EU and NATO would oppose such a move. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, European Missile Defenses, Allies
» Missile details: SS-26
Czech Security Council Approves Radar Deployment
July 3, 2007 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
On July 3, the Czech Security Council approved a U.S. plan to deploy an X-Band radar facility near the town of Misov (90 kilometers southwest of Prague), according to a statement by Tomas Klvana, a Security Council spokesman, quoted by RIA Novosti. The final decision on the deployment of the radar will be made by the Czech Parliament, though domestic groups opposed to the system want a national referendum. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, European Missile Defenses
Aegis Intercept Test Successful; Spanish Frigate and THAAD Radar Part of Test
June 22, 2007 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the ninth successful test in eleven attempts of its "hit to kill" interceptor for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program, the sea-based component of the Agency's
Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). At approximately 4:40 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, the USS Decatur launched a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptor which successfully destroyed the target warhead more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean and 250 miles northwest of Kauai.
An Aegis cruiser (USS Port Royal, CG 73), a Spanish frigate, Méndez Núñez (F-104), and the MDA's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) mobile ground-based radar also participated in the flight test. U.S.S. Port Royal used the flight test to support development of the new Aegis BMD SPY-1B radar signal processor, collecting performance data on its increased target detection and discrimination capabilities. Méndez Núñez, stationed off Kauai, detected and tracked the ballistic missile with a minor modification made to its Aegis Weapon System. The THAAD radar, based on the island of Kauai, also tracked the target and exchanged data with the Aegis BMD cruiser. This was the first Aegis BMD test that used information from a land-based X-band radar: "The THAAD radar tracked them first. This particular case was to prove that THAAD can cue the Aegis system," said Joe Rappisi, Lockheed Martin director for Aegis ballistic missile defense.
The test was the third time the Aegis BMD system has demonstrated its target discrimination capabilities by intercepting a ballistic missile with a separating reentry vehicle. Additionally, the test marked the first time an Aegis BMD equipped destroyer was used to launch the interceptor missile instead of a cruiser. The participation of the Spanish frigate was also noteworthy, demonstrating the potential of cooperation with the system. Aegis BMD technology is being installed on 18 U.S. ships, including cruisers and destroyers. (Article, Link)
» Navy Times description of Aegis destroyer intercept
» More stories on: Testing - American, Allies
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Western European Union Takes Stand for BMD
June 12, 2007 :: Spacewar.com :: News
The Assembly of the Western European Union, meeting in Paris last week, called for "the development of an ‘anti-missile concept.'" While the system should be driven by European interests, the system should be inter-operable with the U.S. missile defense in the general NATO framework and involve opportunities for Russian cooperation. While concerns of sparking a new arms race weighed on the assembly, the imperative to defend against the emerging threat of rogue states acquiring and using ballistic missile technology. The assembly concluded that Europe should also adopt a common position on non-proliferation, export control regimes and missile defense technology. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: European Missile Defenses, Allies
Bush Thanks Poland for Missile Defense Support
June 11, 2007 :: U.S. Department of State :: News
On June 8 in Gdansk, Poland, President George Bush praised Poland's support for hosting elements of a missile defense system that would protect Europe and the United States against a ballistic missile attack from the Middle East. "I appreciate the support of the deployment of the missile defense interceptors here in Poland." President Bush also addressed the concerns of several European countries which feared that they would not be covered by the proposed shield. "We will negotiate a fair agreement that enhances the security of Poland, and the security of the entire continent against rogue regimes that might be willing to try to blackmail free nations." Both Polish President Lech Kaczynski and President Bush reiterated the defensive nature of the system. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Allies
