Key U.S. Policy Priorities
President Obama has approved the recommendation of Secretary
of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a phased,
adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe. This
approach is based on an assessment of the Iranian missile
threat, and a commitment to deploy technology that is proven,
cost-effective, and adaptable to an evolving security
environment.
The plan provides for the defense of U.S. deployed forces, their
families, and our Allies in Europe sooner and more
comprehensively than the previous program, and involves more
flexible and survivable systems.
Two major developments led to this unanimous recommended change: New Threat Assessment & Advances in Capabilities and Technologies
The phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe:
- Sustains U.S. homeland defense against long-range ballistic missile threats.
- Speeds protection of U.S. deployed forces, civilian personnel, and their accompanying families against the near-term missile threat from Iran.
- Deploys proven capabilities and technologies to meet current threats.
- Provides flexibility to upgrade and adjust the architecture, and to do so in a cost-effective manner, as the threat evolves.
We will work with our Allies to integrate this architecture with
NATO members’ missile defense capabilities, as well as with the
emerging NATO command and control network that is under
development.
We also welcome Russian cooperation to bring its missile defense
capabilities into a broader defense of our common strategic
interests.
White House on Evolving Missile Defense Architecture
(2009-09-17)
Major US Government Statements
A select list of major statements On the United States and Africa with policy value.
- U.S. Missile Defense and Regional Security (2010-05-11)
- Defense Secretary Gates on Afghanistan, Missile Defense (2009-10-26)
- Remarks by Vice President Biden with Prime Minister Fischer (2009-10-23)
- Czech Republic to Participate in European Missile Defense Plan (2009-10-23)
- President Obama on Strengthening Missile Defense in Europe (2009-09-18)
Latest US Government Statements
This is a list of the 5 most recent items in reverse chronological order.
- Prospects for U.S.-Russia Missile Defense Cooperation (2010-05-30) ...
- U.S. Missile Defense and Regional Security (2010-05-11) ...
- Clinton, Gates Interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” (2010-04-12) ...
- New Arms-Cut Treaty Requires U.S. Senate Approval (2010-03-29) ...
- Defense Secretary Gates on Afghanistan, Missile Defense (2009-10-26) ...
US Government Fact Sheets
- Actions in Support of Obama’s National Security Strategy (2010-05-27)
- White House on Evolving Missile Defense Architecture (2009-09-17)
- Czech Prime Minister’s U.S. Visit, A Growing Partnership (2008-02-28)
- Missile Defense Assets in Europe To Require 2,150 U.S. Personnel (2007-04-16)
- Missile Defense Assets To Provide Protection in Central Europe (2007-04-16)








