WARSAW, Poland — Poland and the United States struck a deal Thursday that will strengthen military ties and put an American missile interceptor base in Poland, a plan that has infuriated Russia and sparked fears in Europe of an arms race.
“We have crossed the Rubicon,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, referring to U.S. consent to Poland’s demands after more than 18 months of negotiations.
Washington says the planned system, which is not yet operational, is needed to protect the U.S. and Europe from possible attacks by missile-armed “rogue states” such as Iran. The Kremlin, however, feels it is aimed at Russia’s missile force and warns it will worsen tensions.
U.S. officials also said the timing of the deal was not meant to antagonize Russian leaders at a time when relations re strained over the fighting between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region.
