German Radio,
The upper chamber of the Czech parliament has approved a bilateral agreement signed with Washington on stationing a US radar base in the Czech Republic. The plan must still be passed by the lower chamber, where the government lacks a majority and the opposition is against the agreement.
The proposed US missile defence system includes a tracking radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
Washington claims it is designed to protect the region from potential attacks from rogue states.
The plans have drawn strong criticism from Russia, which has threatened to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad close to Poland if the shield is installed.
