Ambassador Ashe on Missile Defense

After more than four years of consultations on the technical, military, legal and political aspects of locating components of a missile defense system in Europe, my government recently made a proposal to the Government of the Republic of Poland about building an interceptor base on Polish soil.   As Prime Minister Kaczynski has indicated publicly, both sides are looking forward to starting formal negotiations soon to make this idea a reality.

The U.S. Government recently reached the conclusion that deploying missile defense assets in Europe would provide a significant capability to defend the United States and its European allies from the evolving Middle Eastern ballistic missile threat. Technical analyses by the U.S. Department of Defense show Central Europe to be a geographically optimal location for missile defense assets in order to meet that threat and to maximize defensive coverage of Europe and the United States from a potential ballistic missile attack from that region.  I share the confidence of the Polish Government that these negotiations will allow us to reach a successful conclusion.  If that happens, there would be ten U.S. missile defense interceptors deployed in Poland, and an associated radar site in Czech Republic.

Our invitation to start formal negotiations reflects the long-standing U.S. view of Poland as a valued ally and a trusted strategic partner.  Poland has proven itself time and again as a very effective contributor to the alliance, and a nation deeply committed to collective security.    I view our proposal to base missile defense assets in Poland as an affirmation of U.S. trust and esteem for Poland, and as an expression of our interest in expanding that strategic partnership for years to come. 

The U.S. and many of our allies believe that a missile defense capability to counter the emerging missile threat from rogue states is a worthwhile objective that would provide the capability to defend much of Europe and the U.S. against long-range ballistic missiles launched from unstable regimes or rogue groups in the Middle East. Iran has publicly set the goal of achieving a space launch capability, which would give it an ICBM force.  It is developing and testing its missile program, all of which is a matter public record.  Although it is likely to take the Iranian Government years to achieve this goal, there is no certainty about the timeframe. 

While some have suggested that a U.S. missile defense base would be “extraterritorial,” in fact the base would not infringe on Poland’s sovereignty.  The U.S. already has military bases on the territory of several European allies.  Consistent with the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, U.S. soldiers based abroad are required to comply with the laws of the host country.  Similar obligations would apply equally to any U.S. military facility located in Poland, and entail full respect for Poland’s sovereignty.

The planned deployment of U.S. missile defense assets in Poland and in the Czech Republic is completely consistent with ongoing NATO discussions about missile defense.  We have consulted closely with our NATO allies as these plans have developed, and believe that this system could both complement and become a cornerstone of an eventual NATO integrated missile defense program.  

The U.S. is well aware of statements by Russian officials that missile defense is a provocation, or a threat to Russia and its interests.  Frankly, I don’t understand that concern.  Throughout the course of consideration and planning the missile defense project, the U.S. has fully briefed and consulted directly with the Russians – we even provided Minister of Defense Ivanov a tour of our existing missile defense site at Fort Greely, Alaska, so he could see for himself that the missile defense project is conceived, designed and intended as a purely defensive measure, against a ballistic missile launched by a rogue or unstable regime.  Minister Ivanov’s visit to Alaska was one of ten such substantive meetings between U.S. and Russian officials over the past year, in order to provide the Russians full clarification and the opportunity for dialogue about U.S. missile defense planning.

Supporting our claim is the very limited nature – and the purely defensive capability – of the missile defense assets we propose to base in Europe: a radar in Czech Republic, and a site with just ten missile launchers in Poland.  The missile defense interceptors have no warheads and are designed to destroy hostile ballistic missiles by direct impact.  Furthermore, there is absolutely no way that this handful of missiles could defend against deter the many hundreds of missiles in the Russian Strategic Rocket Force….nor are they intended to.  However, those ten missiles would be very effective in providing a defense against the increasing likelihood of a ballistic missile launched by a rogue group or regime in the Middle East.  It is vital that we remain patient and transparent with Russia, but we should not attach credibility to rhetoric that intentionally distorts the facts in apparent efforts to influence Polish national policy and decision-making.

The United States and Poland have built a durable and constructive strategic partnership in recent years, and I am convinced that an agreement on missile defense will further deepen our already strong defense and security ties.  A missile defense base with a small contingent of soldiers (approximately 200) in Poland would be a tangible demonstration of my country’s commitment to the security of Poland – and Europe -- by providing a defensive system where none currently exists.

The U.S. has come to the conclusion that missile defense basing in Europe makes sense.  A system designed to counter a ballistic missile threat from a rogue state could complement NATO plans, still in formulation, for a tactical layered and theater missile defense system.  Together these two systems could provide a shield for all of Europe, in addition to the United States.  Simply put, it would not be in the interest of any of us to have Europe exposed to blackmail attempts by rogue states with a long-range missile capability.

Missile defense is a serious issue directly bearing upon the national security of both our nations, an issue transcending partisan politics and superficial judgments.  All of us – governments, academics, journalists and politicians – owe it to the public to have a rational and fact-based discussion on the merits of the initiative.

We look forward to cooperating closely with our Polish partners to negotiate and implement this vital program, which will greatly increase the security of Poland, the United States and our European allies and friends.
 

This op-ed by U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe, appeared in the March 25 edition of Newsweek Polska.