Ballistic Missile Defense in Europe

(česká verze)

In response to an increased threat of ballistic missile attacks from rogue states in the Middle East and Asia, President Bush tasked the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in December 2002 to pursue a program of missile defense that would protect U.S. allies, friends and related deployed forces.  The Missile Defense Agency’s goal is to develop and deploy an integrated, layered missile defense network to protect America, deployed forces and our allies and friends from ballistic missiles of all ranges, during any phase of their flight.  The Missile Defense Agency has a close collaborative relationship with NATO and European governments, sharing technical information that will help them determine what type of missile defense is required for their national security.  The Missile Defense Agency will continue to help and offer assistance as requested.

questions and answers

Q:  What has the U.S. asked the Czech Government?
A:  The U.S. has accepted the Czech offer of hosting a missile defense facility and asked the Czech government to enter into negotiations on hosting such a facility.  The Czech government announced on January 19 that the U.S. has confirmed its interest in building a facility in Brdy which would host a radar.

Q:  What are the next steps? 
A:  An exchange of diplomatic notes to set the framework for formal negotiations, followed by negotiations, concurrent with further technical evaluations of the proposed site.  The final decision whether to host a missile defense facility will be a Czech decision.

Q:  Will the public be informed?
A:  Since January 19, 2007, when the United States offered formal negotiations on missile defense for the protection of Europe, the Czech government has conducted numerous briefings, covered by the media, to provide information.  The U.S. Embassy is committed to offering factual information on missile defense and ensuring that negotiations proceed in a transparent way.

Q:  What is the current threat? 
A:  Aviation Week & Space Technology reports in its current issue that Iran has just finished converting another of its ballistic missiles into a satellite launch vehicle. If a shorter-range warhead is used, a missile fired from central Iran could reach Saudi Arabia, Israel, the entire Persian Gulf region and southern Turkey. A more ominous scenario would involve space-launch-related upgrades that "could eventually create an Iranian ICBM with a range of nearly 2,500 miles that could reach as far west as Central Europe and well into Russia, China and India." However, this system, which would become operational in 2011, is being designed to protect Europe and the United States from any unforeseen ballistic missile threats from the entire Middle Eastern region over the next several decades.

You can find more questions and answers here.