Russia Makes Nice With Obama Over Missile Defense
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russia has backed down from its threat to deploy short-range missiles near bordering NATO countries if the United States were to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.
That has raised questions about whether Obama has scuttled plans to build the shield and whether his administration has spoken to Russian officials about reversing the Bush policy.
Former President Bush wanted to construct a European missile shield as a defense against Iran with installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. The plan was to begin work before Bush left office this month, with completion scheduled for 2010. But the program was delayed because experts in the Pentagon reportedly believe more interceptor testing is required.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now it appears that Russian officials are offering an olive branch to the new president in an effort to establish friendly ties.
But the president has said he wants to review test results, the costs and other policy matters.
Sen. Carl Levin, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, says he believes the time is ripe for the U.S. to pursue with Russia a joint missile defense effort aimed at deterring Iran.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Levin says he has spoken about the issue with the new administration, including a private conversation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as some Russian officials.
The senior Michigan Democrat says there is potential for a "real breakthrough" in the U.S. relationship with Russia. The key, he says, is to focus on the United States' and Russia's shared desire to prevent Iran from building nuclear-armed missiles.
As a presidential candidate, Obama said the missile defense shield is untested. As president-elect, he suggested he is firmly in favor of missile defense.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent an ominous message to Obama, a day after he was elected, that Russia's opposition to the missile defense shield wouldn't change because of the transfer of power.
But Obama spoke to Medvedev by phone shortly after that, and the Kremlin said Obama and the Russian president believe an "early bilateral meeting" should be arranged.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, said this week that he is more willing to cooperate with Russia, but he didn't mention the missile defense shield.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A spokesman for the State Department called Russia's softened stance a "positive development."
"We look forward to cooperating, as we've said for quite some time, with Russia on missile defense," said acting spokesman Robert Wood. "And as President Obama has said, we'll support missile defense if it's proven to work."
Wood said the whole issue is still under review.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Obama's press office did not respond to a request for comment.
FOX News' Justin Fishel and Jennifer Griffin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.