U.S. Halts European Missile Shield Project

President Barack Obama has decided to abandon plans for the creation of a large missile defense shield to be built in Eastern Europe, promising instead to U.S. allies the development of a stronger, quicker defense system to protect them against any Iranian threats.

In a brief statement, President Obama said he was scrapping plans to position interceptor missiles on Polish land and cancelling the building of a radar system in the Czech Republic — a move designed to improve relations with Russia but also fan regional fears of Moscow’s resurging influence.

Obama was quoted to have said the best way to responsibly advance U.S. security and the security of U.S. allies is to deploy a missile defense system that best responds to the threats that the nation faces and that utilises technology that is both proven and cost effective.

The Kremlin said it would welcome the cancellations of the plans, which had been perceived as an obstruction to U.S. efforts to gain Russian support over Afghanistan, Iran and the control of nuclear arms.

But critics immediately accused the White House of softening its stance on defense by scrapping the project, which was carrying the promise of huge military contracts for the usual U.S. defense giants.

Former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain called the move “seriously misguided”.

The Bush administration had suggested the project amid fears Iran was gaining grounds in its nuclear endeavours.