New US missile defense facility ready in Poland

NATO has announced that the alliance's missile defense base in Poland has been put into operation. It is located in Redzikowo, Poland.

As reported by the publication “European Truth”, citing a NATO message, which was named The Aegis Ashore facility is part of the alliance's larger missile defense shield and is designed to detect, track and intercept ballistic missiles in flight. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted:

“This is an important step for transatlantic security and NATO's ability to defend itself against the growing threat of ballistic missiles. They have been widely used in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. As a defense alliance, we cannot ignore this threat. Missile defense is an essential element for NATO's core mission – collective defense.”

NATO missile defense can detect a missile attack and use radar data to guide an interceptor to destroy an enemy offensive ballistic missile. The facility in Poland can protect against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

Aegis Ashore is a key component of NATO's “Enhanced Operational Capabilities” missile defence strategy, announced by NATO heads of state and government at the Washington Summit.

NATO's missile defense mission is to protect the Alliance's population, territory and forces in Europe from the growing threat posed by ballistic missiles. Key elements of NATO's missile defense shield include two U.S. Aegis Ashore sites in Poland and Romania, U.S. Navy destroyers in Rota, Spain, and an early warning radar in Kurecik, Turkey.

Earlier, Polish Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that The Polish side will not shoot down Russian missiles flying through Ukraine in its direction unless there is a corresponding decision at the NATO level.

This week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, after signing a security agreement with Kiev, said that Poland to engage NATO allies to discuss possible downing of Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory.

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