A Czech Republic delegation is in Washington this week to finalize plans for a US missile system in Eastern Europe. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said his government would ignore Russian objections.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek: “But we do not want to belong again to the sphere of Russian influence. We don’t want to belong to a group of countries which have to ask Russia for permission if they want to insure their own defense. Having the anti-missile defense elements placed on our territory thus strengthens our strategic significance and geopolitical position.”

The US wants to install at least ten missiles in Poland, along with a radar site in the Czech Republic. Public opinion polls continue to show majority opposition to the missile shield in both countries. The administration calls the shield a defense measure against a potential attack from Iran, but it’s widely seen as a first-strike weapon.