US air force to increase presence in Poland
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
08.02.2012 13:54
The U.S Air-force will open an aviation detachment unit at Łask in central Poland this year, despite announcing cuts of two US army brigades in Europe.
The town is currently the home of the 32nd Air Base of the Polish Army Air force, one of the two bases in Poland which house F-16 fighter jets.
This month US ambassador Lee Feinstein received a personal briefing from General Mark Welsh at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany about planned future initiatives involving the Polish and American air forces.
Poland is also to host the third phase of the European Phased, Adaptive Approach (EPAA) to missile defense which was declared by president Obama in 2009.
”Our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter, and swifter defenses of American forces and America's Allies.” said the President.
The news comes as US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reassured European allies last weekend that Washington remains committed to security on the continent despite President Barack Obama announcing a new austerity drive which will involve cutting two brigades stationed in Europe.
Panetta said the US armed forces will retain 37,000 soldiers in Europe."Our military footprint in Europe will remain larger than in any other region of the world," Panetta told the Munich security conference.
Ambassador Feinstein will also attend the Euro-Atlantic Security Forum at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Krakow tomorrow. (hh/pg)