Romania's government has approved draft legislation that would allow the deployment of anti-ballistic interceptors as part of a U.S. missile defense shield.

The government approved the law Wednesday, but it must still be voted on by parliament later this year.

Last month, Romania and the U.S. signed an agreement to install the SM-3 ground-based interceptors at the Deveselu air base near Romania's border with Bulgaria. The weapons are expected to be in place by 2015.

The agreement comes as part of a U.S. plan to put missile interceptors in eastern and central Europe in stages through 2020 as part of a proposed missile defense shield for Europe. The U.S. says the system is aimed at countering possible missile strikes by Iran or North Korea.

Russia opposes the plan, which it fears could target its nuclear forces. The United States and NATO are hoping to collaborate with Russia on the effort, and Russia says it is closely monitoring the program.