US to use ships against missile threats

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The US may have scrapped plans to build a missile shield in East Europe, but it will maintain a presence in the region. The US will deploy ships to defend against missile threats from Iran and other countries.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Aegis ships equipped with missile interceptors will be deployed to defend European allies and US forces.

The move aims to give US missile defense forces greater flexibility to move when needed. He said negotiations were underway with Poland and the Czech Republic about deploying land-based interceptors later.

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary, said, "I believe this new approach provides a better missile defense capability for our forces in Europe, for our European allies, and eventually for our homeland than the program I recommended almost three years ago."