From Reuters: NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he had spoken to U.S. officials on Thursday but did not react directly to the reports that Washington is backing away from its missile defense project involving sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, which has provoked Russian concerns.

“It is my clear impression that the American plans on missile defense will involve NATO as such to a higher degree in the future concerning the establishment of missile defense,” he told reporters in Brussels.

“‘I highly appreciate that. I think it is in full accordance with the principle of solidarity within the alliance and the indivisibility of security in Europe.”

He said closer integration on missile defense would be a positive step and in the interests of “our eastern allies within the NATO alliance.'”