MOSCOW, March 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. plan to deploy a missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland could "split Europe," a political scientist said Monday.
"My personal opinion is that consultations should have been conducted with Russia, and, first of all, within NATO itself. This did not happen. The German side also felt it had not been well informed on the issue," said Alexander Rahr, the director of the Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States program and a member of Germany's Council of Foreign Relations, RIA Novosti reported.
The United States has said it plans to place a radar installation in the Czech Republic and a missile base in Poland by 2012 as a defense against potential attacks from Iran.
Russia has objected to the plans. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a German security conference in February that the defense system could trigger a new arms race and accused the United States of ignoring international law, RIA Novosti reported.
RIA Novosti reported that Ukraine could become a bridge between Russia and the West.
Putin's remarks in Munich could result in Russia and Europe working jointly on the issue of nuclear defense, he said, RIA Novosti reported.
