The Czech Role in Missile Defense

When Obama announched a change in U.S. strategy for missile defense in Europe, many accused him of abandoning Poland and the Czech Republic, who had agreed to host third-site interceptors and an advanced radar respectively.  At the time, I thought that the administration might take other steps to assure our allies including involving them in alternative missile defense deployments.

This is the strategy the administration has pursued.  Poland has agreed to host SM3 batteries (which is what they wanted in the first place), and the Czech Republic accepted a role in the modified plan.  The New York Times reported that the Czechs were willing to participate after a visit by Vice President Biden a few weeks ago, but didn't have any details on their specific role.

At a talk at George Washington last night, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, Ellen Tauscher, responded to a question about missile defense.  She briefly outlined the administration's plan and explained why it provided better protection for Europe to counter the near-term threat posed by Iran.  Later, she said NATO allies are happy, citing Polish acceptance of SM3s, and then caught herself as she was about to disclose the Czech role.  Instead, she said that the specifics would be discussed during her upcoming trip.

Tauscher is part of an upcoming U.S. delegation headed to the Czech Republic.  According to the Prague Daily Monitor:

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Ellen Tauscher will arrive on November 16 and she will be followed by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.
The server Aktualne.cz said the high-level group for military cooperation will be headed by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Alexander Vershbow.
The experts will discuss Czech participation in the new architecture of defence against short- and middle range missiles with their opposite numbers from the Czech Defence Ministry.
The USA wants to build the system in cooperation with NATO. The concrete form of Czech participation in the new project remains unclear.
According to the U.S. media, Tauscher recently said the command for the managing and control of elements of the new version of anti-missile defence could be stationed in the Czech Republic.
Czech diplomacy has said it has not received any concrete proposal from the Americans and Biden did not mention in either while in Prague.
The Americans will now discuss the alternatives of the Czech military's participation in the new planned system.

Based on Tauscher's comments, it appears likely that details will be available soon.