Main focus of Friday, September 18, 2009

US gives up plans for missile shield

After years of protest from Russia US President Barack Obama has decided to renounce the plans of his predecessor George W. Bush for a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Instead Obama announced in Washington on Thursday plans to develop a new defence system against Iranian short and medium-range missiles. The European press comments on this change in direction in US foreign policy.

Gazeta Wyborcza - Poland

After the renunciation of plans to build a missile shield in Central Eastern Europe the US must remain an important partner for Poland, writes Bartosz Węglarczyk in the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza: "Poland still needs its strong ally, the US. The missile shield was to be the basis and now we'll have to wait for some kind of replacement. After the White House's decision yesterday not to build the missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic relations between Warsaw and Washington will have to change. The year 2009 has proven to be the end of close ties [with the US] which endured for quite a long time - around ten years. Nonetheless, this alliance can and must be continued, albeit on a different basis. America remains the world's number one superpower, even if it is losing ground. And its interests and fundamental values coincide with ours." (18/09/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Poland
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Aktuálně.cz - Czech Republic

The Internet portal Aktuálně.cz writes on the US decision to abandon plans for a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic: "Barack Obama inherited the project that involved installing a radar in the Czech Republic and a missile shield in Poland from his predecessor. George W. Bush's team had already concluded agreements with the Czech and Polish governments when they left office. Right from the start Obama adopted a curious attitude to the whole thing for three reasons: the high costs, the questionable reliability of the system and last but not least the Kremlin's loud objections to the project. Arguing in favour of the project were the White House's efforts to protect the world from Iran and to honour promises made to its allies. ... In the end domestic political problems in the Czech Republic and Poland [in making the project appealing to their own populations] gave the new government an additional argument for stopping the project. ... Critics see the development as a victory for the Kremlin, with which the White House is seeking to make a fresh start." (17/09/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Poland, » Czech Republic, » U.S., » Iran
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Sydsvenskan - Sweden

The daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet approves of Obama's decision to sacrifice the missile defence shield for the sake of good relations with Russia: "[US President Barack] Obama wants to thaw the icy relations with Russia. The crux of the matter here is really the problems faced by Washington and Moscow in building a strong coalition against Iran. ... New negotiations will commence on October 1, and Iran is willing to discuss everything except the direction its atomic energy programme is taking. Before this meeting Obama must be sure he has support for implementing further sanctions. Bearing in mind how extensive Iran's nuclear weapons programme has already become, this is perhaps the last chance to make the mullahs an offer they can't refuse. Seen from this perspective the missile defence shield seems like an acceptable sacrifice of a pawn." (18/09/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » U.S., » Global, » Iran

Die Presse - Austria

US President Barack Obama's decision not to install a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic is having a negative impact on diplomatic relations between the US and Central Europe, the daily Die Presse writes: "Obama's decision yesterday has left many Poles and Czechs feeling disappointed and offended. They had hoped the missile defence system would promote particularly close ties and ensure the US's protection. But as Obama said yesterday, dispensing with the missile shield has by no means weakened the West's protective guarantees for Poland and the Czech Republic. After being pampered by [George W.] Bush Central Eastern Europeans feel they have been badly neglected by the Obama government so far. But by paying more attention to them and using his diplomatic and psychological skills Obama should be able to win back these loyal friends of America." (18/09/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » Burkhard Bischof

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