US to begin talks on deploying missile system in Poland, Czech Republic

The United States has confirmed it will soon begin formal talks on deploying a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The US embassy in Prague said in a statement on Monday that the United States had contacted the Czech Republic and Poland and would begin negotiations on the possible deployment of US missile defence assets on Czech and Polish territory.

The system, including 10 interceptor missiles and a radar which US officials have said could be split between the Czech Republic and Poland, is aimed at warding off rocket attacks from North Korea or Iran. The Czech Republic and Poland had been identified by the United States as possible hosts for a missile defence base and US defence experts scouted locations for the base in Poland and the Czech Republic throughout last year.