US to send 2 Patriot anti-missile batteries to Poland
The United States said it's sending two Patriot anti-missile batteries stationed in Europe to Poland as a "defensive deployment" at the request of the Polish government.
While testifying before Congress Tuesday on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said there were discussions underway with the Polish government about a possible deployment of Patriot batteries. The U.S. military's European Command (EUCOM) later confirmed that two batteries already in Europe would be deployed to Poland.
"At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander of U.S. European Command, has directed U.S. Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland," EUCOM spokesman Capt. Adam Miller said in a statement Tuesday. "This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory. This is a prudent force protection measure that underpins our commitment to Article Five and will in no way support any offensive operations. Every step we take is intended to deter aggression and reassure our Allies."
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The move came hours after the U.S. dismissed Poland's offer to transfer all of its MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. air base in Germany to boost Ukraine's fight against Russia, with Pentagon press secretary John Kirby saying in a statement Tuesday that "we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one."
Poland is expecting delivery later this year of two Patriot batteries it had bought in 2018. The air defense systems are intended to shoot down incoming missiles, so their deployment to Poland means there are concerns about dealing with any incoming missile fire into the country, which shares a 330-mile border with Ukraine. It was unclear exactly where in Poland the Patriot batteries would be placed.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez