US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has strongly denied suggestion of opposition Republicans that scrapping plans for an American missile defence system in Europe was a concession to Russia. Writing in New York Times, Mr. Gates, himself a Republican, said Moscow's opposition had played no part in the decision which was announced on Thursday. Mr. Gates said the aim of the missile defence system was to deal with potential threats from Iran. He said a new system will be able to provide defence sooner and more effectively. Under the original plan, the US signed a deal in August 2008 with Poland to set up 10 interceptors at a base near the Baltic Sea and with the Czech Republic to build a radar station on its territory.