Poland: On its own territory will install the German Patriot

THE Polish government announced yesterday Tuesday (6/12) that it will finally install in its own territory arrays of the Patriot air defense system offered to it by the Germany but she wanted them to be developed in her territory Ukrainian.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Twitter that he had discussed with his German counterpart, Christine Lambrecht, and “accepted, with disappointment, its decision to refuse to support Ukraine”.

“Patriot deployment in western Ukraine would increase the security of Poles and Ukrainians. So we will proceed with the work of arrangements for the placement of the launchers in Poland and their integration into our management system.”he added, although initially there was no talk of these systems being under the administration of Warsaw.

However, the information that an agreement was signed was confirmed almost immediately by the German Ministry of Defense.

“Federal (Defence) Minister Christine Lambrecht and her Polish counterpart had a good conversation about the offer to deploy German Patriot systems in Poland and agreed in principle”his spokesman said in an email obtained by AFP.

“Details such as the locations of the possible deployment and the creation of the necessary infrastructure will now be discussed at a technical level and it is planned to send a reconnaissance team to Poland immediately”he added.

On November 21, Berlin offered to deploy these modern, American-made anti-aircraft defense systems to Poland’s eastern border after a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile was fatally shot down in the area.

Initially Mr. Blaszczak accepted the proposal, but within 24 hours he changed his mind: he suggested that the Patriots be deployed on the Ukrainian side of the border.

Germany countered that this possibility should be discussed in NATO. The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, for his part, commented that the decision was up to the German government.

The change of attitude of the Polish authorities, which was perceived as a diplomatic rejection of the German offer, was criticized by the Polish opposition, who attributed it to the anti-German orientation of the conservative nationalist government.

If there was the slightest doubt about this orientation, it was dispelled by recent statements by the leader of the ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who denounced Germany’s attempt to impose its “dominion” on Europe.

NATO member states have provided Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons to help it counter the Russian invasion, including modern air defense systems. Germany sent arrays of Iris-T, a medium-range system, to Kyiv. But the US and its allies have so far avoided sending longer-range Patriot systems to Ukraine.

This particular system is a key element of the alliance’s defenses on its eastern flank. Washington has deployed its arrays in Poland, Germany in Slovakia.

The US has approved the sale of another 116 Abrams tanks to Poland

Meanwhile, the US government approved the sale to Poland another 116 US Abrams tanks and other heavy weapons systems for $3.75 billionfollowing the purchase of 250 such tanks in April from Warsaw, the State Department announced yesterday Tuesday.

Poland wants to acquire 116 modernized Abrams (M1A1), 12 M88A2 Hercules rescue vehicles, 8 M1110 mobile bridges, which allow tanks to cross rivers, about fifty light armored and light weapons and ammunition, for $3.75 billion, he clarified American diplomacy.

This sale of military hardware must be approved by the government and Congress notified accordingly, the US State Department continued.

“The proposed sale will enhance Poland’s ability to counter current and future threats by providing it with a credible force capable of deterring adversaries” and facilitate “its participation in NATO operations”states the press release of the competent agency of the State Department.

Poland, which neighbors Ukraine, where Russia’s military invaded on February 24, bought 250 Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles, training and supply systems and large amounts of ammunition for $4.74 billion in April.