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NATOSource

August 25, 2014

NATO Debates Directing Missile Shield Against Russia

By Spiegel and RIA Novosti

NATO Debates Directing Missile Shield Against Russia

US Patriot missile battery in Turkey, February 4, 2013

From Spiegel:  NATO officials are considering deploying a long-planned missile defense system — aimed at protecting Europe from attacks from the Middle East — against Russia as well, SPIEGEL has learned.

In the run-up to next week’s NATO summit, the four countries [Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia] called for the remaining members to agree on language at the summit that would pave the way for the plan. . . .

But the majority of NATO members, especially Germany, are opposed to the proposal . . . Further debate on the issue has since been delayed until after the summit.

From RIA Novosti:  Ahead of the NATO summit at the end of next week, the four countries have urged the military bloc to mention Moscow as a potential aggressor in its summit communique and have safeguards against Russia hardwired into the document, as they did with Iran.

Image: US Patriot missile battery in Turkey, February 4, 2013 (photo: Glenn Fawcett/Department of Defense)