US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has declared that Washington intends to deploy its anti-ballistic missiles system's elements and Air Force base with F-16 fighters in Poland.
According to Kommersant, Moscow gave a hostile reception to these plans. Permanent Representative of Russia at NATO Dmitriy Rogozin declared that the American plans would notably complicate dialogue with Russia regarding creation of joint European anti-ballistic missiles system. Situation around Poland may become one of the topics for dialogue between Dmitriy Medvedev and vice-president of USA Joe Biden.
Hillary Clinton has declared that USA intends to deploy its anti-ballistic missiles system's elements and Air Force base in Poland on Thursday after considering the results of conversation with her Polish colleague Radoslav Sikorski. "Our presidents have declared in December that we plan to deploy USAF's sub-unit and construct anti-ballistic missiles system in Poland. Also we intend to make an operational plan for case of emergency in the region", - she said. Thus, Washington and Warszawa have made it clear that plans on consolidation of military co-operation remain in force in spite of relation reboot with Russia last year. Exact date of anti-ballistic missiles system's elements and Air Force base deployment in Poland was not specified by US Secretary of State. Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US State department did not comment this information yesterday.
Moscow gave a hostile reception to US Secretary of State's statement. According to Dmitriy Rogozin "Mrs. Clinton's statement contradicts the foundational act on relationships of Russian Federation and NATO signed in 1997, which runs that NATO must not strengthen the military structure close to the borders of Russia". According to Rogozin, Russia will study Washington's plans very carefully. The Permanent Representative believes that steps in Poland undermine the possibility of creating the joint anti-ballistic missiles system based on propositions declared by Dmitriy Medvedev in Lisbon.
According to the source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Hillary Clinton's statements have seriously disturbed Moscow. "We have known about plans regarding anti-ballistic missiles system long ago and we plan to arrange in the network of EuroABM project. As for the idea of Air Force base deployment, it requires an additional explanations ", the source noted. According to his story, this question will likely be discussed during conversation between Dmitriy Medvedev and vice-president of USA Joe Biden.