US opens missile defense base in Poland
Polish President Andrzej Duda (Getty Images)
The United States has opened a new missile defense base in northern Poland, in the town of Redzikowo, near the Baltic coast. Polish President Andrzej Duda said that this development underscores the security of the country as a NATO member, despite its proximity to the combat zone in Ukraine, citing Reuters.
"The United States... is the guarantor of Poland's security," Duda said, adding that the permanent presence of US troops at the base showed that Poland, a communist state until 1989, was "not in the Russian sphere of influence".
The base’s opening comes amid concerns among some NATO members, following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. His statements about not defending countries that do not sufficiently invest in defense have sparked discussions within the alliance.
However, Poland, one of the largest defense spenders relative to its economic size, sees no reason for concern. President Duda emphasizes good relations with Trump and Poland’s commitment to strengthening the alliance.
The base in Redzikowo is part of NATO's broader missile defense shield, known as "Aegis Ashore," aimed at intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. Other elements of the shield include a base in Romania, US destroyers in the Spanish port of Rota, and a radar in Türkiye.
The Kremlin has called the base's opening an attempt to contain Russia and a threat to its security, dating back to the project’s planning stage in 2007. NATO, for its part, insists that the shield is purely defensive.
Earlier, Polish media reported that Duda plans to visit the United States to meet with Trump.
