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Statement by John McCain Welcoming Missile Defense Pact with Poland

August 15, 2008

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement welcoming the missile defense pact with Poland:

"I welcome the announcement that the United States and Poland have agreed on a missile defense plan for Europe. As I noted during my meeting last month with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, this constitutes an important step forward in protecting European nations from a growing threat -- missile attacks from states like Iran. While I have welcomed U.S. offers to work with Russia on this system and share in its benefits, I was disappointed in Russia's reaction to the announcement. Threatening attacks against Poland, a NATO ally, is a wholly inappropriate response to an agreement that is not aimed at countering Russia.

"Rather than exchanging charges over missile defense, I would urge Moscow to comply with the ceasefire in Georgia and immediately begin withdrawing its forces from sovereign Georgian territory. I welcome Secretary Rice's visit to Tbilisi and believe that the entire international community should do its utmost to bring aid to the Georgian people."

John McCain, Statement by John McCain Welcoming Missile Defense Pact with Poland Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/291073

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