US president Barack Obama today scrapped a controversial Bush regime missile defence plan for Eastern Europe -- a key irritant in US-Russian ties -- and unveiled a new system which will offer "greater defences" against the threat of possible missile attacks from Iran.
The White House said the new missile defence system for Eastern Europe, which is based on fresh threat and intelligence assessment, would start deployment around 2011 and will be ending in 2020 in four phases.
The "phased, adaptive approach" will provide capabilities sooner, build on proven systems and will be more effective than the 2007 defence programme, offering "greater defences", Obama said at a hurriedly-convened White House press meet.
Obama said his decision is guided by updated intelligence assessment of Iran's missile programmes, which emphasises the threat posed by its short-and-medium-range missiles, capable of reaching Europe. After a review, the US has concluded that Iran is less focused on developing the kind of long-range missiles for which the system was originally developed, making the building of an expensive new shield unnecessary.
The US president also said there is no substitute for Iran complying with its international obligations regarding its nuclear programme.
The missile defence system was to be built in the Czech Republic and Poland.
"We along with our allies and partners will continue to pursue strong diplomacy, to ensure that Iran lives up to these international obligations. But this new ballistic missile defence programme will best address the threat posed by Iran's ongoing ballistic missile defence programme," Obama said.
"Secondly, we have made specific and proven advances in our missile defence technology, particularly with regard to land and sea-based interceptors and the sensors that support them," he said, adding that the new approach will deploy technologies that are cost-effective and quicker.
"Because our approach will be phased and adaptive, we will retain the flexibility to adjust and enhance our defenses, as the threats and technology continue to evolve."
The new missile defence architecture will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defences of American forces and US allies and is more comprehensive than the previous plan.
"It sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the US homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats. And it ensures and enhances the protection of all our NATO allies," he said and claimed that this approach is also consistent with NATO missile defence efforts.
"We will continue to work cooperatively with our close friends and allies, the Czech Republic and Poland, who had agreed to host elements of the previous programme," he said.
Referring to the strong Russian opposition to the previous plan, which felt the shield will threaten its security, Obama said he has also repeatedly made clear to Russia that its concerns about America's previous missile defence programmes were entirely unfounded.
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