U.S. Offers To Abandon Missile-Defense Plans

A U.S. defensive missile launches from the Pacific Missile Range in 2008


By Brian Whitmore
The United States is offering to abandon plans to build a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe in exchange for Russia's help in curbing Iran's nuclear program.

The proposal, first reported by the Russian daily "Kommersant" and confirmed by administration officials, was outlined in a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that was hand-delivered to the Kremlin leader three weeks ago.

News of the offer came just days before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva for talks.

A senior administration official confirmed to RFE/RL on March 2 that "a letter from President Obama was sent to President Medvedev." The official would not comment on the specific contents of the letter, but said that Washington would welcome Moscow's help in curbing the Iranian nuclear program.

"One way to reduce the level of the [Iranian nuclear] threat is through a strategic dialogue with Russia," a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that the United States was prepared to consult with Russia about "alternative missile-defense configurations."

Iran Nuke Issue

"The New York Times," also citing senior administration officials, reported that the letter was not a direct quid pro quo, but was rather an attempt to provide Moscow with an incentive to work together with Washington in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue.

Yevgeny Volk, director of the Heritage Foundation's Moscow office, says the "devil will be in the details" of any agreement that threatens to limit Russia's nuclear cooperation with Iran.

"Nuclear cooperation with Iran is very profitable for Russia both politically and economically," Volk says. "Russian participation in Iran's nuclear program provides a livelihood for many people in the Russian nuclear industry who are concerned about the crisis, and, politically, Russia is interested in political cooperation with Iran in order to limit American influence in Central Asia."

The U.S. plan to install a radar facility in the Czech Republic and deploy 10 interceptor missiles in Poland was a signature project of the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush, who argued it was necessary to counter the growing Iranian nuclear threat.

Moscow staunchly opposed the deployment so close to its borders, arguing that it constituted a threat to Moscow's security.

Obama has repeatedly said he plans to continue the missile-defense project, provided that it is proven to actually work and is cost-effective. A senior administration official told RFE/RL that the plans could be altered "depending on the nature of the threat."

Analysts say this leaves the administration just enough wiggle room to cut a deal with Russia when such an agreement would be advantageous to U.S. interests.