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Rejection to U.S. Missile Plans Grows in Poland
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More people in Poland oppose their country's participation in a United States defence plan, according to a poll by CBOS. 60 per cent of respondents reject the deployment of an American anti-missile shield on Polish soil, up five points since February.
In December 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea.
In January, the U.S. issued a formal request to place a missile defence radar base in the Czech Republic—in a military area southwest of Prague—as well as 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
On Jul. 2, Bush met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Maine. Putin has been critical of the missile defence plan in Eastern Europe, and considers it as threat to his country's national security. After discussing the plan during the meeting, Bush reiterated in a press conference that the U.S. needs the cooperation of Europe, saying, "As I told Vladimir, I think that Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the deployment of an anti-missile shield in Poland?
Jun. 2007 | Feb. 2007 | |
Support | 26% | 28% |
Oppose | 60% | 55% |
Not sure | 14% | 17% |
Source: CBOS
Methodology: Interviews with 903 Polish adults, conducted from Jun. 1 to Jun. 4, 2007. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.