02 September 2009

United States Reassures Poland on Security Commitment

General James Jones

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — President Obama’s national security adviser has held consultations with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and reassured him of the United States’ “firm and unwavering commitment” to Poland’s security, the White House said September 1.

General James Jones led a delegation of U.S. officials to September 1 ceremonies in Gdansk, Poland, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II. On the sidelines of the ceremonies Jones held an hourlong conference with Sikorski and other Polish officials.

Jones updated Sikorski on the current U.S. review of the proposed, limited, ground-based ballistic missile defense system. “General Jones stressed that the aim of the review is to enhance European and American defense in light of an emerging threat from Iran,” the White House said in a prepared statement that was based on the meeting.

Jones told Polish officials that the United States has not made any decisions regarding the missile defense system, but as part of the review process, the United States will engage in “a strategic dialogue” with Poland.

Jones and Sikorski also discussed Poland’s support in Afghanistan. Poland provides substantial troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, which operates alongside U.S. forces.

MISSILE DEFENSE PLAN

Positioning a limited anti-ballistic missile system in Europe has been a significant issue between the United States and Russia. Under the administration of former President George W. Bush, the United States proposed stationing 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an advanced radar station in the Czech Republic to protect allies in Europe and thwart rogue states with ballistic missiles. Russian officials have expressed concern over the breadth and scope of the system.

At a July meeting between Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, they issued a joint statement that said, in part, “We have instructed our experts to work together to analyze the ballistic missile challenges of the 21st century and to prepare appropriate recommendations, giving priority to the use of political and diplomatic methods.”

Obama and Medvedev said they have directed their missile experts “to conduct a joint review of the entire spectrum of means at our disposal that allow us to cooperate on monitoring the development of missile programs around the world.” Obama ordered his own review of the proposed U.S. anti-missile system shortly after taking office in January to determine if the system is effective in meeting security needs and not overly costly.

Apart from the anti-missile issue, the United States and Russia are pursuing a much broader agenda that includes substantial reductions in the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, which Obama and Medvedev agreed to July 6 at the Moscow Summit; U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); and strengthening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Obama said.

In an April 5 speech in Prague, Obama proposed a sweeping strategy to thwart the international nuclear threat, calling for reducing and eventually eliminating existing nuclear arsenals; strengthening the NPT and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons to additional nations; and preventing terrorists and political extremists from obtaining nuclear weapons or materials. (See “Obama Seeks World Free of Nuclear Weapons.”)

In agreeing to reduce nuclear arsenals, the United States and Russia are aiming to ease tensions substantially and strengthen mutual trust — both critical ingredients for enhanced relations.

As owners of more than 95 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, Obama said, the world’s two leading nuclear powers must lead by example. Obama and Medvedev signed a joint understanding at the Kremlin to reduce nuclear warheads and the means to deliver them by up to a third from current levels. A legally binding treaty will be completed later this year.

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