Proposed U.S. Missile Defense Assets in Europe

Some of the worlds most dangerous and unpredictable regimes either have already acquired, or are attempting to acquire, weapons of mass destruction WMD. These regimes also are developing andor acquiring ballistic missiles of increasing ranges, payloads, lethality, and sophistication as a means of delivery. In the future, these regimes could use these asymmetric weapons to pursue their objectives through force, coercion, andor intimidation as they have done in the past. Todays ballistic missile threat from potentially hostile states is fundamentally different from Cold War era threats and risks. In response, the United States is fielding limited and purely defensive capabilities. In our comprehensive strategy to combat WMD, missile defense is just one element of a multi-faceted approach, which includes diplomacy, export controls, threat reduction assistance, nonproliferation regimes, and counter-proliferation programs. At the same time, missile defense is our ultimate insurance policy if the other elements of our strategy fail. History has taught us that the free world will be challenged by military surprises as well as failures in diplomacy, intelligence, and deterrence. Given this reality, missile defenses have become highly desirable because they both reinforce deterrence and hedge against its failure. Because of the expanding ballistic missile threat, it is essential that we develop and deploy missile defenses capable of protecting not only the United States and our deployed forces, but also our friends and allies. Trans-atlantic security is indivisible. If Europe is not secure, the United States is not secure. To ensure our common security, we need defenses stationed and operational in Europe before a threat fully emerges. For this reason, negotiations are currently underway to locate up to 10 silo-based long-range missile defense interceptors in Poland and a midcourse tracking and discrimination radar in the Czech Republic.