Poles, Czechs wary on Russia missile move, eye Obama

By Gareth Jones - Analysis

WARSAW (Reuters) - Russia's reported decision to halt the deployment of missiles on the Baltic Sea has exposed Polish and Czech security concerns as Washington starts to review U.S. plans for a missile shield in central Europe. The Interfax news agency quoted the Russian military on Wednesday as saying Moscow had halted plans to deploy Iskander missile systems to its Baltic outpost of Kaliningrad on the Polish border.

Analysts interpreted the move as a good will gesture toward new U.S. President Barack Obama.

There has been no official Russian confirmation of the decision. But the Kremlin said its position was always that it would only deploy missiles in Kaliningrad if Washington implemented its plan for a European missile shield.

Russia opposes U.S. plans to deploy 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic as part of a global missile defense system. Washington says the system is aimed against so-called 'rogue states' such as Iran, not Moscow.

The Interfax report has stirred fears that Moscow may now be trying to drive a wedge between the United States and its ex-communist NATO allies in central Europe.

"If the United States gives up now, it would mean the whole security situation in this part of Europe was subject to Moscow's diktats," said Witold Waszczykowski, Poland's former missile shield negotiator and now deputy head of the National Security Bureau.

Other analysts also urged caution over Moscow's move.

"Russia has not changed its tactics since Soviet times. Its primary aim is to weaken the U.S. military presence in Europe, especially central Europe," said Eugeniusz Smolar of the Center for International Relations in Warsaw.