The US'attempt to deploy its National Missile Defense (NMD) system in Poland and the Czech Republic has triggered passionate debate in Europe. Some European politicians fear this issue could split Europe, or even the West as a whole. The Iraq was has divided the continent into ¡®new Europe¡¯, led by the US and Britain and including some central and eastern European countries, and ¡®old Europe¡¯, which includes Western European countries and is led by Germany and France.

Europe-US relations have warmed considerably since Angela Merkel became the Chancellor of Germany. Under her leadership, Germany-US relations have begun to recover from the Schroeder-era policy of "being difficult" with the Bush administration. European and US politicians are naturally unwilling to have their relationship once again set back by controversy over the NMD system, but have to work together to cope with the situation.

Russia has responded strongly to the US'plans in Eastern Europe. Although the US claims the project is directed at Iran and other countries, Russia fears that it is being targeted too, just as it sees the eastward expansion of NATO as a threat. Germany wishes to give consideration to the position of both the US and Russia, and was the first to suggest that Russia¡¯s concerns be considered in any expansion of NATO. It also called for discussions within the NATO framework on the US missile defence system to address Russia¡¯s concerns.

Which country is the US really targeting? Noted German politician Egon Bahr, who formulated the "New Oriental" policy during the Cold War, said that for the moment, the US'anti-missile program doesn¡¯t threaten Russia, but hinted that he could not be certain about the future. He also acknowledged that while NATO and European countries can discuss the project and make recommendations, the US, Poland and the Czech Republic will make the final decision.

The US'NMD project has touched a lot of nerves, and its influence on Europe-US relations must be viewed as part of the overall post-Cold War Europe-US situation.

Since the end of the Cold War, the rift between Western Europe and the US has grown, particularly since the war in Iraq began. However, central and eastern European countries that are new to both NATO and the EU have become diehard Washington allies, establishing a rival party to "old Europe" within both organizations. However, warmer relations in recent days indicate that the relationship between the US and Europe, though weakened by the Iraq war and not as solid as it was during the Cold War, is still largely intact.

Friendlier ties are in the interests of both parties. The US is aware that to maintain its global dominance it needs Europe, and that the "new Europe" camp cannot replace the old. "Old Europe" too relies on the traditional, trans-Atlantic friendship. Disputes over the NMD deployment showed that Europe and the US still have clashes of interests despite improved relations, as they have different interests, ideas about war and peace, and beliefs in a world order.

Although the US'anti-missile project is not a big enough issue to truly jeopardize relations with Europe, it may cool them for a period.