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Last week, Romania agreed to host missile interceptors (Standard Missile 3) as part of the president’s new missile defense plan. These missiles will be in place to defend against attacks from Iran, but once again, Russia believes their purpose is offensive. (UPI)

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. broke its promise to keep the Kremlin abreast of its missile defense developments in the region, and NATO representative Dmitri Rogozin asked, “How can we stay calm when alien military infrastructure, U.S. military infrastructure, has come to the Black Sea area?”

How will our missile defense plans in Romania affect negotiations for the START renewal? “It is impossible to talk seriously about a reduction of nuclear capabilities when a nuclear power is working to deploy defensive systems against nuclear warheads possessed by other countries,” Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

The missile interceptors will be deployed to Romania by 2015. Obviously, these and other developments will impact START negotiations, giving Russia an excuse to stall. Earlier this month, Poland announced that the U.S. will deploy Patriot missiles to Poland near the Russian border. In response, the former Soviet Union announced it would beef up its Baltic fleet. Signed in November, the deal between the U.S. and Poland also sends about 100 U.S. troops to Poland.

(Source for all quotes: UPI)

 
Last week we blogged about a “secret letter” President Barack Obama sent to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev offering to renege on our agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic to build missile defense shields in exchange for Russia helping us keep Iran in check.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears to be approaching the situation from a different angle. According to the Associated Press, Clinton talked about the need for protection against Iran but didn’t mention taking our deals with Central Europe off the table. She said the need for missile defense in the region would not be as urgent if Iran were deterred from developing nuclear weapons.

On a tour of the Middle East and Europe, Clinton met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss relations between the two countries. She reiterated that missile defense was necessary and that Iran is among those countries considered a threat. While Obama hopes for a “dialogue” with the rogue state, Clinton said she doubted Iran would be interested in such a discussion.

Russia has made clear that any missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic will be seen as a hostile move, although the U.S. has assured Russia that the bases would protect the region from attacks by countries like Iran and North Korea. Although Russia said it would retaliate by deploying missiles to the Polish border, Medvedev has since backed off from that threat.

 >> Last month, North Korea successfully launched its first homemade satellite and reportedly is preparing to launch a communications satellite. North Korea has stated these “peaceful” endeavors are for scientific purposes. According to a Washington Times editorial, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said the U.S. would be ready, willing, and able to shoot down the communications satellite if ordered.

The U.S. believes North Korea may be indirectly violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 1695, under which North Korea was expected to stop its ballistic missile program.

>> U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 6 to discuss relations between the two countries. Clinton’s Geneva visit is one stop on her tour of the Middle East and Europe. (Geneva Lunch)

>> The AFP reports that North Korea has built on its long-range missile test site an underground fueling station, which will be difficult for the U.S. to see via spy satellites. North Korea has stated it will launch a communications satellite in the wake of a successful test-fire of a homemade satellite. (AFP)

 
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.