White House Talks Russia, Missile Defense
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By John M. Doyle
The U.S. has no intention of trading a proposed missile interceptor site in Europe in exchange for “a better deal” with Russia, a White House official said July 1.
A review of the so-called “third site” missile shield, first proposed by the previous administration, is under way to ensure it is both feasible and affordable, a requirement stated often by President Barack Obama.
At the start of his presidency, Obama said he wanted to “reset” U.S.-Russian relations, which grew quite rocky in the final years of President George W. Bush’s second term after the U.S. announced plans to base missile interceptors in Poland. Moscow threatened to counter that move with its own missile base on the Polish border. The U.S. maintains the interceptors were to protect against attack by Iran and not a challenge to Russia.
And when Obama visits Moscow next week, “we’re going to talk in those terms — not abandoning a third site in order to do a deal with Russia. That is a formulation we just don’t use at all,” said Special Assistant to the President Michael McFaul.
“We want to enhance missile defense in Europe and around the world as it relates to real threats … like Iran, and not Russia,” McFaul said, adding: “We believe Russia could play a role that would enhance their security” as well.
McFaul’s remarks came during a teleconference with reporters previewing Obama’s trip, which also includes a G-8 Summit in Italy and a visit to Ghana in West Africa.
Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said the issue of Iran’s nuclear weapons development program “will be front and center at each” of the European stops.
A number of other security issues are expected to come up with Russian leaders, including North Korea, nuclear non-proliferation and European security, during the three-day visit to Moscow.
The focus of Obama’s July 6-8 visit will be reducing nuclear weapons and advancing a replacement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The 1991 START agreement is set to expire Dec. 5 and U.S. and Russian officials launched negotiations recently, said McFaul, senior director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs.
Obama will meet with both Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister — and former President — Vladimir Putin during his visit.
McFaul said the White House was “not going to reassure, or give, or trade anything with the Russians” with regard to expansion of NATO and missile defense. “Our approach is different than that. We’re going to define our national interest … and the interest of our allies in Europe with regard to these two questions” and then look for ways to cooperate with Russia.
Photo: Obama campaign
