Nato backs European missile 'shield'

American plans for a European-based missile defence system were fully backed by Nato today.

The alliance’s leaders also urged Russia to drop its objections to the shield.

Nato wants to look at ways in which the planned US project, to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, can be linked with future missile shields elsewhere. It says leaders should come up with recommendations to be considered at their next meeting in 2009.

It also called on Russia to accept offers to cooperate on the system, which would involve 10 interceptor missiles based in Poland and a tracking radar site in the Czech Republic.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwartzenberg announced that negotiations with America have been successfully completed and that a deal would be signed in early May.

A joint US-Czech statement that said, “This agreement is an important step in our efforts to protect our nations and our Nato allies from the growing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.”

The Poles have yet to agree to the plan.

Russia vehemently opposes the missile scheme, claiming it is designed to weaken its nuclear deterrent capabilities and upset the balance of power in Europe.

President Bush has repeatedly denied that, saying the facilities are designed to protect Europe against a potential missile attack by Iran. The dispute became heated, with confrontational, Cold War-style rhetoric from Moscow.

Mr Bush will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin twice this week, during the Nato summit and in one-on-one meetings planned for this weekend in Sochi, Russia.