“I am convinced that German soldiers will continue to support NATO’s eastern flank; the presence of their contingent in Poland is not only a help, but also a great reinforcement of the eastern flank,” said Wojciech Skurkiewicz, deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense on Polish Radio 24.
Patriotic question
Skurkiewicz was questioned in PR 24 on Monday about reports of the planned withdrawal of Poland-based German Patriot anti-aircraft batteries deployed in Poland following the fall of a missile in the border town of Przewodów in November 2022.
The deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense noted that Bundeswehr soldiers with the Patriot system are still stationed in Poland and that relations between Poland and Germany are “really very good in this dimension”. He pointed out that the presence of the German military contingent in Poland, like the presence of Polish soldiers abroad, was “carried out under the strictness of certain deadlines”.
I am convinced that German soldiers will continue to support NATO’s eastern flank. It is not that it is just aid – although we are of course very happy with it, and we are striving very hard for it internationally, but above all it is a very strong reinforcement of NATO’s eastern flank, which is under great pressure, and the involvement of Allied forces, including German, but let’s not forget that British and American forces must also be at some level, must be measurable
Skurkiewicz said.
We will do everything we can to ensure that these activities are continued by our allies
he declared.
Disturbing news from Germany
In the night from Thursday to Friday, some German media reported, referring to the local defense ministry, about the planned withdrawal of the German Patriot air defense systems from Poland and Slovakia in the coming months.
On Friday morning, Germany’s defense ministry said statements about plans to station the German Patriot systems in Poland and Slovakia “referred to the original plans”. The ministry stressed that the systems have also been reported to the very high preparedness forces – NATO’s so-called VJTF spearhead.
For that reason, the provisions are worked out in close consultation with the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe – SACEUR – and always require a separate political decision. “The credible protection of our neighbors on the eastern flank and the best possible support for Ukraine continue to attract our attention
assured the resort.
Germany offered to support the Polish air defense system with its Patriot systems in November last year when fragments of a Ukrainian interceptor fell from a Ukrainian interceptor during the Russian shelling of Ukrainian territory on the Polish side of the border, killing two people. The head of the Ministry of National Defense expressed his satisfaction with this proposal and, two days later, announced that he had asked the German side to hand over to Ukraine the batteries proposed by the Bundeswehr to Poland. Then-German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht pointed out that the kits are part of NATO’s integrated air defense and must be deployed on Alliance territory. Eventually, the Bundeswehr’s Patriot systems were integrated into the Polish command system.
On December 21, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington, the US announced the transfer of the Patriot kit to Ukraine. In early January, Germany also declared the transfer of Patriot batteries to Ukraine. Two days ago, the Federal Ministry of Defense officially confirmed delivery of the system.
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rm/PAP
Source: wPolityce