Poland welcomes new plan by US for missile shield

President Obama removed a major irritant in relations with Russia last month by scrapping US plans to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic to intercept long-range missiles from “rogue’’ states such as Iran. The Bush-era plan had enraged Moscow.

The Kremlin has praised Obama for the decision, but Russian officials also have said they want to know more about what missile defense system the US will use instead.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the US proposal for a missile shield that would replace a bulkier version previously planned for Poland.

“I want to stress that Poland views . . . the new configuration for the missile shield as very interesting, necessary, and we are ready at the appropriate scale to participate,’’ Tusk said at a news conference with Biden.

Biden, on the first stop of a three-nation trip aimed at reassuring Washington’s allies in the region of its support, praised Warsaw for its readiness to accept the revamped plan.

Biden said the new approach would meet “a growing threat’’ to the United States and Europe.

“It’s going to meet it with proven technology that will cover more of Europe, including Poland, and will do it more efficiently than the previous system,’’ he said. “Simply put, our missile plan is better security for NATO and is better security for Poland.’’

Russian retired General Viktor Yesin, former chief of staff of the Russian military’s Strategic Missile Forces, said Russia’s reaction to the plan will likely be calm unless the United States takes what he called provocative moves. He said Moscow would be angered if the United States sent navy ships with interceptor missiles to the Black Sea or put a missile defense radar in Georgia.