Russia Warns Neighbors Against Role In U.S. Scheme

Poland and the Czech Republic could be targeted by Russian missiles if they allow elements of the planned U.S. missile defence system to be sited on their territory, the commander of Russian strategic missile forces recently warned. The warning came as both Warsaw and Prague signalled they were likely to respond positively to U.S. requests for them to host anti-missile defence bases. Germany also expressed concern about the stand-off over the missile defence project, with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, foreign minister, criticising the U.S. and Nato for not addressing Russia's worries over the system earlier. Russia continued to make clear its deep opposition to the system as General Nikolai Solovtsov warned that basing parts of it in eastern Europe risked undermining strategic stability. "If the governments of Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries make this decision . . . [Russia's] strategic missile troops will be able to target those facilities," he said.