PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech government on Wednesday agreed to start negotiations with the United States on the possible hosting of part of a U.S. global missile defense system.
“The government approved the start of negotiations,” Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said, adding a diplomatic note about the decision will be delivered later Wednesday to the U.S. Embassy in Prague.
In January, the U.S. made a formal request to site a radar base in a military area southwest of Prague as part of plans for a missile defense shield that Washington says would protect against a potential threat from Iran or North Korea.
The U.S. also wants neighboring Poland to place 10 interceptor missiles there as part of the system. The two former Soviet satellites are now NATO members.
Topolanek said his government will seek to have the system integrated under NATO. Polish leaders are discussing whether NATO should be involved in the process.
Some European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have urged the United States to consider greater NATO involvement in the plans amid concerns the proposed U.S. system is producing divisions in Europe and tensions with Russia.
Moscow is strongly opposed to the plan and has said that Poland and the Czech Republic risk being targeted by Russian missiles if they agree to host the U.S. bases. Russia also warned it could lead to a new arms race.
According to recent polls, most Czechs oppose the plan, arguing that the base could endanger the country, and also fear it would worsen relations with Russia and other countries.
Topolanek’s Civic Democratic Party, in coalition with the Christian Democrats and the Greens, supports the radar base, but the opposition Social Democrats and Communists are against, demanding a referendum on the issue.
