Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said Wednesday that Lithuania would follow the examples of Poland and the Czech Republic and deploy an anti-missile system on its territory.

"There is a threat that in some years unstable countries will get the technical capability to attack. The world must restrain this process," Olekas told journalists during a visit to Moldova, the Latvian Press Agency reported.

"One of the solutions is an anti-missile system offered by NATO," he said.

Lithuania, which borders Russia, has joined the European Union and NATO.

The United States has started negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic on installing parts of its anti-missile shield in the two countries.

Washington said the shield is designed to intercept rockets fired against it from the central or Far East.

Russia strongly opposes the system and warned earlier that the project could trigger a new arms race.

Olekas denied that the anti-missile shield would be aimed at Russia.

"They serve as a guarantee of stability in the region," he said.

Source: Xinhua