Poland and US reach missile defence deal

Officials from the Bush administration confirmed the conclusion of the deal, but remained nameless as the deal must still be approved by the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk.

The US wants 10 interceptor missiles to be based on Polish territory. Washington says the system is necessary for defence against possible nuclear attacks from Iran. Russia however, which is steadfastly opposed to a US missile defence being based in EU countries, argues that the system is targeted at itself, and diminishes its nuclear deterrent.

Details of the agreement have yet to be released, but in negotiations Poland was demanding billions of euros to renovate its own air defences. The work would be necessary, the country argued, due to the increased threat from Russia in the wake of the basing of missile defence on its territory.

Russia has said that should Poland agree to hosting missiles, it would target the country, a threat that has also been made against the Czech Republic, which recently agreed to host the advanced radar system for US missile defence.

The Bush administration is hoping to begin construction in the two countries before the end of the president's term of office, as it would limit his replacement's ability to back-track on the deal.

Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain backs missile defence, while the Democrats' Barack Obama has expressed misgivings.

The system, which has cost more than €63 billion ($100 billion) to develop and costs €7 billion a year to maintain – the single biggest line item in the Pentagon's budget – is unpopular in the US Congress too, where congress members argue the technology remains unproven.

Most Poles and Czechs also oppose the plan, according to polls.