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Russia and Poland have agreed to talk in an effort to ease growing tension over a missile defense base and Russia’s invasion of Georgia.

The plot thickens.

Last month, the U.S. and Poland signed an agreement for the U.S. to install 10 missile interceptors in Poland. As part of the deal, the U.S, will deploy a Patriot missile battery in Poland. According to the Associated Press, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski in Warsaw on September 11. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk may also meet with the Russian leader.

One can’t miss the irony of that date, the seventh anniversary of Islamic attacks on American soil. Let’s hope the meeting helps resolve tension and, more importantly, encourages talk of peace and resolution.

Earlier this week, we blogged about the impact Russia’s invasion of Georgia had on missile defense negotiations between Poland and the U.S.

There was friction between President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk over whether to allow the U.S. to install missile interceptors in Poland. 

However, recent hostilities in Eastern Europe put negotiations on a fast track. On August 11, the Polish government dismissed Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczkowski, and yesterday, Poland and the U.S. reached an agreement on the missile interceptors.

According to the Associated Press, Russia is “infuriated” about the deal. Tusk reportedly said that NATO “would be too slow” to respond to a threat and opted to work directly with the U.S. to protect the country against possible attack by Russia.
 
The U.S. and the Czech Republic reached a radar installation agreement last month.
 
(Source: AP - Photo source: AP/Alik Keplicz)

Poland now appears anxious to get going on joint missile defense efforts with the U.S. in the wake of Russia invading Georgia. We reported last week that the U.S. plans to install a missile defense base in Poland, which Russia opposes. The U.S. has already signed an agreement to build a radar installation in the Czech Republic.

In response to the invasion, the Polish government dismissed Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczkowski on August 11, 2008, a move likely taken to facilitate talks with the U.S. over the missile defense base. Last month, Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister, reportedly said the U.S. presidential election could extend defense talks. The recent invasion of Georgia has made matters more urgent.

According to Stratfor, Poland was holding out for larger military incentives from the U.S. Poland’s president Lech Kaczynski and Tusk disagree over whether to allow the base in the country at all. Kaczynski favors it, while Tusk is worried that Poland will be perceived as Washington’s “lap dog.” Russia’s attack against Georgia has changed the game.

Stratfor reports that “Tusk and Kaczynski are cleaning house of anyone who stood in the way of an immediate BMD deal with the United States and are entering into fast negotiations with Washington.”

Source: Stratfor