US Anti-Missile Base Drives Poland Into 'New Phase' of Security Buildup

Poland enters a new phase of strengthening of the country's security while constructing a military base, which will be a part of an US-designed ballistic missile defense system in Europe, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the Polish village of Redzikovo hosted a ground-breaking ceremony of the US Aegis Ashore missile defense system, attended by US and Polish officials, including the country's president. The construction of the base is expected to be completed by 2018.

"The missile defense system will intercept potential missiles which would fly further to the Western Europe. Today we are entering the new phase of strengthening of security of the free world and Poland," Duda said at the ceremony as quoted by the Polish television.

According to Duda, the base is aimed at providing security and "it is not directed against any country."

On Thursday, the same US Aegis Ashore missile defense system was officially inaugurated at a military base in Romania.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the creation of the ballistic missile defense system in Europe, approved in 2010 during a NATO summit in Lisbon. A group of European countries, including Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey, agreed to deploy elements of the system on their territories.

Earlier on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would have to think how to reduce the threat posed against Russia due to the deployment of US missile defense systems in Eastern Europe.