Poland Agrees to US Missile Base in Return For Modernisation

Poland will agree to the establishment of a US missile defence base in the country if the US gives significant help in modernising its military, local media reports.

Minister of National Defence Bogdan Klich told newspaper daily Polska the establishment of a base in Poland depends on the level of support offered by the US.

"As long as we cannot sign an agreement about a satisfactory contribution by the Americans to the modernisation of our armed forces, we can't talk about our agreeing to an American installation on our territory," he says.

Recently, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said he had received assurances the US would help Poland strengthen its short- to medium-range air defences.

The US wants to place ten missile defence interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic to defend against Iran.

By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh