June 11, 2007— At a meeting with President Bush during the Group of Eight summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the United States and Russia jointly use radar in Azerbaijan to develop a missile defense rather than placing the U.S.-made radar and interceptors in Central Europe. Congressman Trent Franks issued the following statement in response:

“President Putin acknowledged that America and Russia have a shared interest in defending against an Iranian ballistic missile threat.  The United States and Russia should cooperate in building an effective defense against our mutual enemies, and this admission is a significant step; however, the United States must remain committed to placing the interceptor site at a location that optimizes security for the United States and our allies.  If this location is with our allies in Poland and the Czech Republic, and Poland and the Czech Republic want them, then this is where they must be placed.”

Russia has expressed concern over the U.S. proposal to place a radar in the Czech Republic and ten interceptors in Poland. U.S. officials continue to attempt to allay Russian concerns regarding the site, insisting that the defensive technology in no way poses a threat to Russia. During a Senate hearing in April of 2007, Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Strategic Capabilities Brian Green testified, “10 interceptors in Europe are simply not a threat to Russia and cannot diminish Russia’s deterrent of hundreds of missiles and thousands of warheads.”