Events 2007

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, right, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, center, and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Richard Graber [AP photo]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates Discusses Missile Defense During Visit to Prague

October 23, 2007

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates discussed missile defense with Czech counterparts during a visit to Prague on October 23. The discussions focused on ongoing U.S.-Czech negotiations over a planned missile defense radar facility to be located in the Brdy military area. 

Secretary Gates's visit included meetings with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova, and opposition leader Jiri Paroubek. 

Of missile defense, Gates said: "Our goal is an integrated system that would protect all of the members of the Alliance against threats such as from Iranian ballistic missiles.  And I am pleased to say that in the recent past both NATO foreign and defense ministers have been supportive of this approach." He stated clearly that, "If we were to explore measures of transparency with the Russians, such as having a presence here in the Czech Republic or in Poland at these sites, that we would carry these proposals first to the Czech government, and then nothing would be done without the consent of the Czech government. Let me repeat, for emphasis, nothing would be done in this regard without the consent of the Czech government."

Secretary Gates arrived a week prior to the next round of U.S.-Czech missile defense negotiations.

Speaking in Washington on October 23, President Bush noted, "Last November, Iran conducted military exercises in which it launched ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel and Turkey, as well as American troops based in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials have declared that they are developing missiles with a range of 1,200 miles, which would give them the capability to strike many of our NATO allies, including Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and possibly Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. Our intelligence community assesses that, with continued foreign assistance, Iran could develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States and all of Europe before 2015. If it chooses to do so, and the international community does not take steps to prevent it, it is possible Iran could have this capability. And we need to take it seriously -- now.

Today, we have no way to defend Europe against the emerging Iranian threat, so we must deploy a missile defense system there that can," he added.