Poles Demand Missile Shield Against Russia

Poland and the Czech Republic are raising the ante in negotiations with the Americans, demanding missiles to deploy against Russia and security and legal guarantees in return for hosting elements of the US missile shield.

The missile defence programme is splitting Europe and igniting a new cold war-style clash with the Kremlin, and the demands from the central Europeans plunge the Pentagon project into greater uncertainty.

The negotiations, about extending the missile defence project from California and Alaska to Europe, are expected to be wound up before the end of the year. The Poles are insisting on US security guarantees and supplies of Patriot missiles to protect themselves against a perceived threat from Russia, while the Czechs are embroiled in discussions over how a US radar base south of Prague would be safeguarded and what's in it for the Czechs.

As Russia, in the words of a US official, delivers "bloodcurdling" threats in response to the Pentagon project in central Europe and unease spirals in Germany, there is also growing frustration in Warsaw and Prague with what is perceived as a high-handed approach by the US administration. "We want legal guarantees. I can't go into details but it is to do with how the base is protected and also about the base agreement," said a senior Czech official of the proposal for a radar base south-west of Prague. "Unfortunately the Americans could have done more to engage the Russians over the past year."

The Polish demands are more incendiary and are certain to confirm the Russian belief that in the long term the new US bases in central Europe are aimed at Russia. The US and Nato say such ideas are nonsense and that the 10 interceptor rockets to be stationed in Poland will be there to deter a missile attack from the Middle East, especially Iran.

The Poles are telling the Americans that they do not feel threatened by Iran, but they do feel vulnerable to Vladimir Putin's Russia and need to build up their defences. Patriots would help to protect Poland from short-range and medium-range missile attack from Russia.

If the Poles display their loyalty to the Americans by helping the US defend against attack from the Middle East, the Americans should beef up Polish defences against Russia, Warsaw argues.

The risk, say Russian and Polish experts, is that Poland could be turned into a "frontline state" against Russia. In two recent speeches, Mr Putin has delivered the strongest attacks of his seven-year presidency on the US, singling out the missile shield for criticism. US officials say they want to take the Polish security concerns into account, but are clearly wary of worsening the tension with Moscow by supplying Warsaw with missiles.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, echoed such anxieties yesterday. "We have to avoid purchasing security for some at the cost of creating new mistrust or even insecurity," he warned in a direct reference to the Polish-Russian dispute.

The Poles and the Czechs are frustrated at being taken for granted. Unless there is more in the deal for the host countries, such as jobs, money, contracts for local companies and legal guarantees governing the bases, they are telling the Americans, it will be difficult to get the agreement of their parliaments.