The deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in Poland would depend on the country's security situation despite pledges by Washington to help modernize the Polish military, Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said on Tuesday.
"Prime Minister Donald Tusk has got the affirmative answer from the U.S. side on its pledges to help Poland to modernize its military, which has taken us closer to the final settlement of the missile defense base issue," the Polish news agency PAP quoted Klich as saying.
The U.S. side should immediately begin talks with Poland on the details of the plan, Klich said.
Poland has hoped the United States will significantly boost its military assistance in return for allowing interceptor missiles to be based on its territory. Warsaw has pushed for Patriot 3 or THAAD missiles, and has identified 17 areas of its military the United States could help upgrade.
The United States is planning to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic as part of its European missile shield.
Russia objects to the plan, saying it will threaten Russia's national security, and has warned that Moscow will aim its missiles at the system if it is deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Tusk has said Poland wouldn't permit such a base on its soil without a "100 percent" assurance from Washington on its national security.
Source: Xinhua
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