A day after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had described Washington's projected new SM-3 anti-missile system as "very interesting, and needed," Biden said that Romania, too, embraced "the new missile defence architecture".

Biden was in Bucharest where he met Romanian President Traian Basescu and delivered a key address at Bucharest University.

He had visited Poland on Wednesday and was scheduled to go on to the Czech Republic later Thursday.

SM-3 replaces a plan by the former George W. Bush administration for a so-called missile shield, comprising missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic, by 2013.

Bush's successor Barack Obama said that after a rethink, and the realisation that Iran was developing its own missiles more slowly than anticipated, his administration was opting for a more flexible system.

In Bucharest, Biden said he appreciated Romania's almost instant embrace (of the project), as well as the one of your colleagues in Poland."

In his address to Bucharest University, he said the "new missile defence architecture ... will protect all NATO allies, including all central European NATO members" and would provide "stronger, smarter and swifter defences."

NATO defence ministers are to meeting in Bratislava on Friday where US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is set to brief his allies on Washington's new missile defence plans.

Biden rejected critics who said the decision to shelve Bush's missile shield in favour of the new system was bowing to Moscow, which had slammed the previous plans as a threat to its national security.

"Some jumped to the conclusion that this new approach was designed to appeal to Russia at the expense of central Europe. They are wrong. Missile defence is not about Russia," Biden said.

"What is true is that we are working to strengthen our relationship with Russia. We believe that a more constructive relationship with Russia will benefit us all."

Nevertheless, Biden said Washington continued to have "disagreements with Russia on matters of principle" and said the US was "against the notion of 'spheres of influence'."

Biden countries in eastern Europe, which threw off communism 20 years ago, to guide the fledgling democracies of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine to stability.

"The example you set 20 years ago inspired the world," Biden said.

"The leadership you exert over the next 20 years can do even more: encouraging, supporting and consolidating young democracies.

"In Eastern Europe, there are countries still struggling to establish fully functioning democracies and vibrant market economies. You can help guide Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine along the path to stability and prosperity," Biden said.

There was also "much work to be done in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus," Biden said.

"Destroying old oppressive regimes is easier than building new flourishing democracies," he added.

But Eastern European countries had "delivered on the promise of your revolution -- and are now in the position to help others do the same."

Biden also reaffirmed Washington's commitment to its European allies.

The alliance had been "the cornerstone of American foreign policy for more than 60 years," he said.

"Our alliance is built around consultation and collaboration in the face of common threats."

And Washington's new approach to missile defence was a "powerful example of how this works," he said.

Biden also praised the thousand Romanian soldiers serving with US-led forces in Afghanistan.

"Our troops are proud to serve next to Romanians because you are incredibly competent," he said.

"Your forces in Afghanistan are performing skillfully in the toughest places."

earlier related report
Poland agrees to new U.S. defense shield
Wooing Warsaw, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has managed to secure Poland's support for a new, more mobile defense system in Eastern Europe.

Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, told reporters after talks with Biden that he viewed the Obama administration's new plan as "very interesting, necessary and we are ready to participate at the appropriate scale."

The so-called SM-3 missiles planned were spelled out in fine details by Biden during a trip to Warsaw earlier this week.

"This is very important for Poland, for NATO and the U.S. Above all, this is about the long-term strategic cooperation between the U.S. and Poland," Mariusz Handzlik, the chief foreign policy adviser to the Polish president, was quoted saying in a report by The New York Times.

Pentagon officials say the SM-3 missiles are the most technically advanced and cost effective way to counter Iran's anticipated arsenal.

Poland's backing of the plan comes months after President Barack Obama announced he was scrapping Bush administration designs to build a long-range missile defense system in Eastern Europe.

Poland was expected to have hosted at least 10 interceptor missiles as part of the ground-based system.

But the Obama decision precipitated frosty relations between Washington and Warsaw, which did not want to look to Europe for security assurance, but rather, to the United States.

Biden's charm offensive in Warsaw, critics said, saw frigid U.S.-Polish relations thawing.

In statements to the press following his meeting with the Polish prime minister, Biden said Poland enjoyed an "absolute" U.S. commitment to its defense, praising Polish soldiers for their "great sacrifices" in Afghanistan.

He also prodded Poland, one of America's "closest allies," to join efforts to improve relations with Russia.

The new U.S. missile system aims to reduce the threat from short- and medium-range missiles.

Announcement of Poland's support for the SM-3 missiles plan came on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland at the start of World War II.

The SM-3 missile plan is seen by many analysts as a bid by the Obama administration to sway several Eastern European governments, including the Czech Republic, which also was annoyed by Washington's decision to drop old missile defense plan, that it is not turning its back on the region as it strives to improves relations with Russia.

The plan could also help ease relations between Warsaw and Prague, whose governments have been among America's strongest allies in Europe but have increasingly felt snubbed by the administration.

In his meeting, Biden is said to have told Tusk that the United States had ditched plans for fixed-based missiles because they were technologically outdated, not due to Russian pressure.

"Simply put, our missile plan is better security for NATO, and is better security for Poland," Biden said.

Moscow has been a staunch opponent of the shield, arguing that the Bush plan's antiballistic missiles were directed against Russia -- a claim the United States has repeatedly rebuffed.

The Bush and Obama administrations have instead insisted that the intended defense shield was meant to protect Europe against a possible attack from Iran.

About 100 U.S. troops are expected to be stationed in Poland to maintain the missiles, each costing the U.S. around $10 million, Polish daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna reported earlier this month. The SM-3 defense system is made by Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon Co.

Polish-Russian relations have been strained by Poland's backing of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, which Russia opposes.

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