Polish-US military exercises underway
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
22.03.2015 12:59
Polish-American military exercises are underway in Sochaczew, 50 kilometres west of Warsaw, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Defence Minister of Poland Tomasz Siemoniak greets American soldiers as part of the 'Atlantic Resolve' exercises. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kamiński
The 3rd Warsaw Air Defence Missile Brigade, which is stationed there, has been joined by a U.S. Patriot missile battery which arrived from Kaiserslautern in Germany, along with 100 American soldiers and about 30 vehicles.
During a visit to the Sochaczew military base, Saturday, Poland’s Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that the exercises are to demonstrate ''our joint ability to transfer the Patriot missile battery for the defence of Warsaw
''This is our allied response to the developments in eastern Europe, a strong signal that meets the expectations of our citizens,'' Siemoniak said.
''We have always been friends and we have been allies for the past 16 years, during which time we have always been side by side with the United States.
''When we were in need, the United States firmly stood by our side.''
U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull, who accompanied the Polish MOD in Sovchaczew, has stressed that the presence of the Patriot missile battery shows that ''U.S. security guarantees for Poland as part of NATO mean something more that only words on paper.''
It took three days for the Patriot missile battery to cover the 1200 kilometre distance between Kaiserslautern and Sochaczew. US exercise commander Colonel Greg Brady said, however, that ''we came by road but if there is a need, we can be flown in.'' (mk/nh)