Romania Eager to Clinch US/NATO Missile Shield in Europe in 2011

Romanian president Traian Basescu says his country wants to complete its talks for hosting elements of the US missile shield in Europe in 2011. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Romania wishes to complete its talks with the US on plans to deploy elements of the US/NATO missile defense shield on its soil, President Traian Basescu stated Thursday.

"The United States remain our strategic partner and our main ally in the field of security. Today, the main vector of our cooperation is the anti-missile shield. We wish to conclude this year the bilateral negotiations," Basescu told foreign ambassadors in Romania, as cited by BGNES.

Last February, Romania was officially invited by U.S. President Barack Obama to be part of a newly designed US missile shield, after it volunteered to host interceptor missiles. Romania is expected to host SM3-type medium-range ballistic missile interceptors, which should be operational by 2015.

As the Obama Administration modified the original Bush Administration plan for a US missile defense system in Europe – to shift its location from Central Europe to the Balkans – there have been reports that Bulgaria might be asked to host some of its elements. While various options appear to have been discussed in diplomatic conversations, the USA has not asked Bulgaria formally to host elements of the missile shield.

Bulgaria has supported in principle the establishing of a missile shield in Europe, advertised as a protection from missiles fired from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East, which, during the NATO Summit in Lisbon in November was adopted as a NATO-wide project. While for the time being, Romania and Poland are expected to host interceptor missiles and Turkey – to host the radar, Bulgaria could end up as a reserve radar location if Turkey eventually decides not to participate.