GUIDANCE ON U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 066347

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2028
TAGS: MARR PARM PREL XG
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS

REF: RIGA 361

Classified By: Acting EUR DAS Anita Friedt; Reasons 1.4 (B & D).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3.


2. (C/NF) Background: Press reports have indicated that
the U.S. is considering Lithuania as an alternative site
for deployment of U.S. missile defense assets should
negotiations with Poland fail. These reports are
premature. In fact, the U.S. is hopeful of concluding
missile defense negotiations with Poland in the coming
weeks.


3. (U) Action Request: In response to host government
and/or press inquiries about missile defense negotiations
with Poland, Embassies may draw upon the following points:

--We remain optimistic that we will successfully conclude
missile defense negotiations with Poland, as well as
identify appropriate means of addressing Polish defense
modernization needs.

--If Poland determines that basing a limited number of
U.S. missile defense interceptors on Polish territory is
not in their security interests, then as Acting Under
Secretary of State John Rood has stated, the U.S. will
respect Poland,s sovereignty and will look for an
alternative location to place the missile defense site.

END POINTS


4. (U) State Department POCs are EUR/PRA Michele
Azevedo(202) 647-6861 and EUR/PRA Joe Klinger (202)
647-6154.


5. (U) Embassy assistance is appreciated.

RICE