BERLIN -- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer will travel to Washington as soon as possible for talks on issues including the development of a disputed missile defense system backed by President-elect Bush, officials said Friday.

"We have always said this is a decision for the United States but one which has international repercussions. We want to discuss these repercussions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Michaelis said.

European countries including Germany have expressed concern that the missile system could wreck international arms control agreements, and Russia and China are also strongly opposed.

No date for Fischer's trip can be set until the new U.S. administration is in place, government spokesman Uwe-Karsten Heye said. Bush is to be sworn in Jan. 20.

Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Joachim Cholin said Germany is also discussing cooperation with United States in reconnaissance and air defense. Germany last year decided to slim and re-equip its armed forces to reflect the end of the Cold War and their increased role in peacekeeping.