Poland in harder bargain with US on missile defense
Updated: 2008-01-21 21:20
But while the United States is rushing into the talks over the missile defense plan, Poland is not.
Poland, mindful of US strategic goals, is keen to protect its own interests. Tusk appears cooler to the US proposal than his predecessor Jaroslaw Kaczynski, saying his country would not rush for a decision.
The overly US-leaning policy of the previous government led to its defeat in Polish elections last year. At issue in Poland are the deployment of troops to Iraq and talks with the United States on its missile defense plan.
"As the prime minister of the Polish government, I feel responsible for the security of Poles, and not, with all due respect for our greatest ally, for the security of the United States," said Tusk who assumed the post last November.
The new Polish government under Tusk also expressed disappointment with Washington's failure to allay Russian concerns and opted to open direct dialogue with Moscow.
Russia has fiercely opposed the US missile defense plan in Eastern Europe, saying such an installation so close to its territory poses a threat to its national security, and has warned it could target the base in Poland with missiles.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak visited Poland earlier this month, trying to make the Polish side "aware of the risks of the planned system," Polish news agency PAP reported.
As some analysts said, from unconditional agreement to conditional acceptance, Poland raised demands to elevate its bargaining position.
Klich visited the United States last week for talks with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said they had "frank but productive" talks.
"We are trying to figure out how to work with them to continue to move forward on what we believe to be a program of vital importance not just for us, but really for Europe," he said.
Morrell said the United States will work to address Poland's concerns, but he would not elaborate on what those concerns are.
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