PRAGUE (AP) – A group of U.S. experts arrived in the Czech capital Monday to check conditions at a possible radar site that would be part of a U.S. missile defense system near Prague, a defense official said Monday.
The five-member group from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency will start their measurements of electromagnetic conditions in the Brdy military area Tuesday, Defense Ministry spokesman Petr Sykora said.
Last week, the government agreed to start negotiations with the United States on the possible hosting of the radar.
The U.S. made a formal request in January to put a radar base in the 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.
According to recent polls, most Czechs oppose the plan, arguing it would worsen relations with Russia and other countries.
Prime Minister Mirek 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.
