Biden to discuss missile defence on trip to Poland, Czech Republic

Oct 19, 2009, 18:52 GMT

Washington - US Vice President Joe Biden is due in Poland and the Czech Republic later this week to discuss the Obama administration's revamped plans for missile defence.

The trip is in part aimed at assuring Polish and Czech leaders that the United States remains committed to their security despite the decision to scrap the basing of a long-range missile-defence system in the two countries, said Tony Blinken, Biden's national security adviser.

'What the vice president will talk about is a strong commitment to missile defence,' Blinken told reporters.

President Barack Obama announced September 17 that he was scrapping the long-range plans and replacing it with missile-defence technology that is more advanced for meeting short- and medium-range threats. The purpose is to counter any potential Iranian attack on Europe.

The decision was welcomed by Russia, which viewed the long-range system as a threat to its nuclear deterrent, but miffed Polish and Czech officials who cut an agreement to host the system with the previous administration.

The revised plans call for the deployment of SM-3 interceptor missiles on the sea-based Aegis medium-range system by 2011, and the Obama administration has began talks with the Czech Republic, Poland and other Central European countries about hosting a land-based version of the SM-3 by 2015.

'This architecture will address the current threat that we and the Europeans are facing,' Blinken said.

Biden will meet with Polish officials in Warsaw on Wednesday before travelling to Romania for discussions on Thursday. He will then head to Prague for meeting on Friday.