Washington, Sep 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The US will deploy elements of a missile defence shield in Poland by 2018, both the countries said in a joint statement Thursday.

"The United States and Poland are pleased to jointly announce that the Ballistic Missile Defence Agreement of 2008 and its Amending Protocol of 2010 on deployment of the land-based SM-3 system within Poland has entered into force, effective of Sep 15, 2011," the statement said.

The system will be located at the Redzikowo military base, the statement added, calling it "a significant contribution by our two nations to a future NATO missile defence capability".

Russia has retained staunch opposition to the deployment of missile-defence systems near its borders, claiming they would be a security threat.

NATO says it needs the shield, which will be eventually deployed in the Mediterranean, Poland, Romania and Turkey to counter the threat of missile attacks from Iran.