Reuters: Czech diplomatic note on US radar station calls for stronger security guarantees

The Czech Republic wants the United States to provide stronger security guarantees and military cooperation in exchange for hosting part of its missile defence shield, a note sent to the U.S. government said. The diplomatic note, approved by the Czech government last week and seen by the Reuters news agency on Wednesday, agrees to start talks with the Americans over the shield. The United States wants to deploy a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland by 2011-12. The note said the Czechs were aware of new threats to their security, mainly international terrorism, and expected that the United States would share information on those threats.

Washington says the missile shield system would counter threats from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

Author: Dita Asiedu