Georgia May Allow U.S. Missiles on Its Soil

MOSCOW — Georgia risked provoking a furious response from its powerful Russian neighbor yesterday by saying it was prepared to host part of America's new missile defense shield.

Gela Bezhuashvili, the Georgian foreign minister, said his country was ready, if asked, to join the Czech Republic and Poland in allowing its territory to be used for the deployment of new missile batteries and radar sites.

"If the Americans came and told us they wanted to, we are certainly minded to talk with them about it," said Mr. Bezhuashvili. "There is no formal application, not even informal discussions. But if they ask for help, we will talk with them."

A spokesman at the Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment. But the Kremlin forcefully opposes the American plan, despite Washington's pledge that the defense shield is not designed to combat a missile threat from Russia but from states such as Iran and North Korea.