Poland’s defense chief: We want constant NATO, U.S. presence

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The Associated Press

Soldiers assigned to A Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Brigade signal each other the area is clear while emplacing the Patriot radar set during Panther Assurance, an interoperability deployment readiness exercise, Jan. 15, at Skwierzyna, Poland. This exercise meant to demonstrate 5-7 ADA’s rapid deployment capabilities also served as a validation of the unit’s readiness. Panther Assurance is a demonstration of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s ability to move forces quickly and freely across allied borders and maintain freedom of movement across the region. (Photo by Sgt. Paige Behringer/US Army)

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s defense minister says his country wants to have permanent NATO and U.S. troops’ presence to ward off security threats.

Poland’s security concerns have been raised by the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine and by the role that another neighbor, Russia, has in it.

Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Saturday the goal of Poland’s new conservative government is to have a “lasting presence of NATO and American troops and a permanent air defense.” Standing alongside U.S. Ambassador Paul W. Jones, Macierewicz said talks are underway concerning the U.S. Patriot system.

Macierewicz spoke following a Polish-U.S. missile defense exercise at a test range in Skwierzyna in western Poland.

Poland hopes a NATO summit it is hosting in July will bring assurances of permanent NATO troops’ presence on its territory.

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