NATO allies react positively to Poland-US deal: defence minister
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
28.06.2019 01:00
Poland’s NATO allies have reacted positively to a deal on closer military cooperation signed by the Polish and US presidents earlier this month, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has said.
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and his Lithuanian counterpart Raimundas Karoblis at the start of a North Atlantic council gathering during a NATO defence ministers' meeting in BrusselsEPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Under the deal, America will station around 1,000 extra troops in Poland, a staunch military ally fearful of Russia.
In Brussels on Thursday Błaszczak took part in a meeting of defence ministers from NATO countries.
He told reporters afterwards: "The presence of US troops strengthens NATO… and deters a potential opponent."
Amid fears of Russian aggression, the authorities in Warsaw have made intense efforts to secure boosted US troop numbers in Poland, which lies on the eastern flank of the NATO Western military alliance.
After meeting the Polish head of state, Andrzej Duda, during an official visit to Washington on June 12, US leader Donald Trump announced closer military and economic cooperation with Warsaw, hailing the dawn of an “exciting new era in the US-Polish alliance.”
(pk)
Source: PAP