US presses on with missile shield talks despite Russian concerns

NATO and US officials said on Thursday that the United States is moving forward with missile shield talks with Poland and the Czech Republic, as it explores the idea of a joint radar base with Russia. NATO defence ministers agreed in Brussels on Thursday to examine the implications of the US move to extend the shield into Eastern Europe and see how the alliance's planned theatre missile system might fit in.

Washington announced in January that it wants to install 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic linked to an early warning system, probably in the Caucasus, all to be operational by 2013. The shield is aimed at countering attacks from nations that Washington regards as "rogue states" such as Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised his US counterpart George W. Bush last week by proposing that they set up a joint US-Russian radar base in Azerbaijan. US and Russian officials are studying the proposal.