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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