"Given our history we are very sensitive ot the idea of foreign troops on our soil," said Klaus, whose country was invaded by Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces in 1968 to quell a liberalising communist regime led by the late Alexander Dubcek.

Asked in an interview with the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung whether he could foresee American NATO bases in Germany being transferred to his country, Klaus was quoted as saying:

"I do not believe the renewed stationing of foreign troops would be welcome."

NATO's European commmander said in March US bases could be moved eastwards from Germany into eastern Europe.

NATO commander General James Jones said he was in intensive talks with Alliance member countries about overhauling the US military base strategy, including shifting resources to new members in the East.

The Czech Republic is now a member of NATO.

"I really do not understand what would be the interest in having such military bases," the newspaper quoted Klaus as saying.

After the downfall of communism in eastern and central Europe, the former Czechoslovakia separated in 1993 into two sovereign states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

SPACE.WIRE