The opening of the United States’ first permanent army station in Poland on Tuesday was described as a demonstration of NATO cohesion against Russian aggression by the ambassador to Warsaw.
Currently, more than 10,000 US troops are stationed in Poland, which has evolved into the primary transit nation for foreign assistance and equipment destined for Ukraine’s neighbor.
In the western city of Poznan, the eighth in all of Europe, the US garrison was created.
“This is historic. And it signals that we are here to stay,” Mark Brzezinski, the US ambassador, said at the inauguration ceremony.
“It signals to the world that the United States is committed to Poland, and to the NATO alliance. That we are united in the face of Russian aggression,” he added.
Following US President Joe Biden’s announcement of a permanent US presence in Poland last year, the garrison was created.
“We highly appreciate the permanent US presence in Poland, especially today in Europe when Russia has invaded Ukraine and is trying to rebuild its empire,” said Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak.
The garrison is “important for the security of Poland but also for the security of NATO,” he continued at the ceremony. “The US army troops on NATO’s eastern flank will be commanded from Poland.”
