Senior US Official to Visit Romania, Poland for Missile Defense Events

US Assistant Secretary of State will visit Romania and Poland to take part in ceremonies related to the Aegis Ashore missile defense system in the two countries, US Department of State said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Assistant Secretary of State Frank Rose will travel to Romania and Poland on May 12-13 to take part in the launching ceremonies related to the Aegis Ashore missile defense system in the two countries, US Department of State said in a press release.

"Rose will serve as the senior State Department representative on the US delegation for events in Romania and Poland, respectively, to mark progress in implementing the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) to missile defense in Europe," the release stated.

On May 12, Rose will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Romanian Deveselu to mark he operational certification of the Aegis system.

While on May 13, the assistant secretary will take part in a ground-breaking ceremony for the Aegis system in Redzikowo, Poland.

NATO has said it is revamping the military alliance in response to a military buildup by Russia on its eastern border.

Russia has repeatedly refuted NATO and US claims of a military buildup, and moreover, Moscow has warned that the alliance’s build-up on its borders is provocative and can result in regional and global destabilization.