Vice President Biden’s Trip to Poland

21 October 2009

Vice President Biden with Ambassador Feinstein

Vice President Biden began his three-nation trip to Central Europe in Warsaw, where he met with Prime Minister Tusk and President Kaczynski.  The Vice President welcomed the Polish government’s support for President Obama’s missile defense program and Poland’s readiness to host SM-3 missiles. “We appreciate that Poland’s government agrees with us that there is now a better way – with new technology and new information – to defend against the emerging ballistic missile threats,” the Vice President said. 

The Vice President said that the new phased adaptive approach “strengthens missile defense for Europe, it strengthens Article 5, and it strengthens the alliance’s deterrent capability.  Simply put, our missile plan is better security for NATO, and it is better security for Poland and, ultimately, better security for the United States of America.”  

Vice President Biden emphasized our wide range of shared interests, including trade and economic growth, energy security, promoting democracy in Poland’s eastern neighborhood, and advancing the Community of Democracies born in Warsaw in 2000.

As part of Vice President Biden’s visit to Central Europe, he delivered a speech (PDF 30.97 Kb) at the Central University Library in Bucharest, Romania.

• President Obama’s new missile defense approach announcement
• Vice President’s remarks with the Prime Minster (PDF 67.12 Kb)
  
• Vice President’s  remarks with the President (PDF 73.25 Kb)