U.S. and Poland sign missile shield deal

By Gabriela Baczynska

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland agreed on Thursday in the midst of the Georgia crisis that it would host elements of a U.S. global anti-missile system after Washington agreed to boost Poland's own air defenses.

The move is likely to heighten tension between Russia and the West, already high over Moscow's military action in Georgia. Russia says the U.S. system poses a threat to its security, despite U.S. assurances to the contrary.

The preliminary deal was signed by deputy Polish Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and U.S. chief negotiator John Rood. It must be endorsed by both governments and Poland's parliament.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had insisted the United States provide more military cooperation in return for consent to host 10 interceptor rockets at a base in northern Poland.

Washington says the interceptors and a radar in the Czech Republic will form part of a global shield protecting the United States and its allies from long-range missiles that could in the future be fired by Iran or groups such as al-Qaeda.

"We have crossed the Rubicon," Tusk said just before the deal was signed.

"We have finally got understanding of our point of view that Poland, being a crucial partner in NATO and an important friend and ally of the United States, must also be safe."

Rood described the agreement with Poland as strong. "It elevates our security relationship to a new level," he said.

Washington has agreed to move a battery of Patriot missiles

from Germany to Poland as part of the deal, a senior U.S. defense official said in Washington. Around 100 U.S. military personnel would be needed to operate the system, he said.

RUSSIAN DISPLEASURE

In what appeared to be a first sign of Moscow's displeasure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday canceled a planned trip to Warsaw in September, Polish diplomats said.

Russia has also been angered by Poland's strong verbal support for Georgia.

Moscow has threatened to take retaliatory steps against Poland and the Czech Republic, its former reluctant vassals who are now part of the European Union and NATO, for hosting the U.S. system on their territory.

If everything goes to schedule, the interceptor base would be ready by around 2012, officials have said. The Czechs have already signed an agreement to host the radar although parliament there must ratify it.