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Poland to expand US air base – Defense Minister — Analysis

The bottom growth comes as a part of an settlement securing a “everlasting” US presence in Poland, the Protection Ministry says

Poland will broaden a army base internet hosting the US Fight Aviation Brigade within the coming years, the nation’s protection minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, introduced on Monday throughout a go to to the ability. Situated within the central Polish metropolis of Powidz, the bottom is anticipated to strengthen the US Air Drive operation capabilities in assist of Polish and NATO forces within the area, he mentioned.

The ability will get new hangars and warehouses in addition to a bulk gas storage facility close by, the minister mentioned, accompanied by US ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezinski. The Powidz base hosts the US Apache strike helicopters.

Powidz “is popping right into a army complicated, making ready to assist Polish and NATO forces on the jap flank of the North Atlantic Alliance,” Blaszczak mentioned amid unprecedented tensions between NATO and Russia over Moscow’s continued army offensive in Ukraine.

The bottom growth comes as a part of the 2020 Enhanced Protection Cooperation Settlement between Washington and Warsaw. The accord “creates situations for a everlasting, long-term presence of the US Armed Forces in Poland,” the Polish Protection Ministry mentioned, including that it could “strengthen” nationwide safety.


Biden predicts future of US troops in Poland

A complete of 114 infrastructure initiatives at 11 places are included into the settlement, which the ministry mentioned will “allow the speedy improvement of further fight capabilities in Central and Japanese Europe.”

In keeping with Blaszczak, Warsaw additionally plans to construct its personal army potential by buying helicopters and tanks from the US. It’s anticipated to obtain Abrams tanks as early as subsequent 12 months. A purchase order order for 96 assault helicopters has additionally been positioned, in keeping with the protection minister.

Final week, Us President Joe Biden mentioned that the US forces that have been “quickly” deployed to Poland are prone to keep there for a “very long time.” Warsaw beforehand requested Washington to completely garrison troops in Poland, however that may technically violate a NATO treaty with Russia.

It’s unknown what number of US troops are at the moment in Poland, NATO’s fundamental logistical hub for supporting the federal government in neighboring Ukraine. In Might, the US ambassador in Warsaw revealed that over 12,600 American army personnel have been within the nation, the biggest quantity in historical past.

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