During his recent visit to the United States, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk finally got the promise from US President George W. Bush to help modernize the Polish military.
Poland has been yearning for the US promise since the two countries resumed negotiations in January 2007 on a planned US missile shield system, which includes ten missile interceptors to be deployed in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic.
However, despite the "breakthrough", Poland still faces many obstacles to give the green light to the deployment of a US missile shield on its soil, analysts say.
Domestic concerns
A day after Tusk's meeting with Bush at the White House, Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said Tuesday that the deployment of the US missile defense system in Poland would depend on the country's security situation despite pledges by Washington to upgrade its military.
The minister said the Polish government is assessing whether the promised US military aid can offset a possible security threat to Poland brought about by the deployment of the missile shield.
Klich said if Poland's national security should be undermined as a result of the scheme, the government will by no means ink a deal with the United States on the issue.
Out of security concerns, Poland has asked the US to provide Patriot 3 or THAAD missiles and listed 17 areas of its military that the US could help modernize. Poland has also asked for military aid worth several billion US dollars.
