Czech-U.S. radar agreement reached

The Czech Republic and the United States have reached agreement on the main treaty concerning the possible siting of a U.S. radar base on Czech territory, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said on Thursday after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a NATO summit in Bucharest. The actual treaty will be signed in Prague at the beginning of May.

Washington’s plans to expand its missile-defense shield to central Europe would involve the positioning of a tracking radar in the Czech Republic, and a launching-pad for ten interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland. At the summit, NATO countries are expected to fully back the planned U.S. anti-missile defence system in Europe and announce that it will be integrated into a future system of joint NATO defence.

Author: Jan Richter