U.S. opens missile defence site protested by Russia [Video]

WARSAW, Poland –

U.S. and Polish officials inaugurated a NATO missile defence base in northern Poland on Wednesday, with Polish officials welcoming it as a significant step in securing the country and the NATO alliance at a time of war in neighbouring Ukraine.

The U.S. missile defence base, which is being integrated into NATO’s defences, was originally planned under U.S. President George W. Bush as a way to protect Europe from ballistic threats from Iran. Poland, however, has always seen it as a form of U.S. protection in case of Russia aggression, fears that have grown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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The Kremlin protested the plan from the start, and on Wednesday denounced the base as a challenge to its own military potential that would require measures “to ensure parity.”

Polish officials, who gathered with the U.S. …