21/09/2013 00:00
TW
0

by MONITOR
IN a second major reversal of the Bush administration's foreign policy, Barack Obama yesterday announced that the United States will not proceed with the so-called missile shield programme which involved installations in the Czech Republic and Poland. The first change of mind was over agreeing to hold talks with Iran for the first time in thirty years. Ostensibly the missile shield was intended to provide protection against Iranian long range missiles but from the start Russia has regarded it as a threat against its strategic interests and in retaliation has talked about installing nuclear missiles in its Kalingrad enclave which lies within the European Union.

Mr Obama signalled during his visit to Moscow in July that he planned to review the missile shield programme. His decision to cancel it has already been criticised strongly by the Czech Republic and Poland which see it as a let-down for their readiness to work closely with the US and as an indication that Washington is now too willing to placate Moscow. From an Obama presidency perspective, however, the decision recognises doubts about the effectiveness of the missile shield project and also makes a gesture towards Russia that could bring dividends over a new strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty to replace the one that expires in December of this year and also help the process of “re-setting” relations with Moscow over a wide range of issues.