Barack Obama's decision to scrap Bush-era plans for a missile defence shield on Thursday triggered dismay in central Europe and among Republicans on Capitol Hill, amid claims that it amounted to a major security concession to Russia.

Unveiling one of the biggest reversals on national security since coming to office, the US president said that he would abandon predecessor George W. Bush's plans for ground-based interceptors in Poland and a related radar site in the Czech Republic, deploying instead a new system that could hit shorter-range Iranian missiles....
But US officials deny the move is a quid pro quo for Russian support for tougher UN sanctions on Iran - an idea previously floated by Mr Obama's advisers.
Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday denied that there was any private deal behind the US decision....

US Republicans, who identify missile defence as a key part of US national security, were also critical. John McCain, the presidential candidate who lost to Mr Obama, criticised the move as 'seriously misguided'. John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, a leading Bush-era hawk, was scathing.

'I think this is a near catastrophe for American relations with Eastern European countries and many in NATO,' he said. 'It was the kind of unilateral decision that the Bush administration was always criticised for and I think the clear winners are in Russia and Iran.'...