Situated in the village of Redzikowo, the Aegis Ashore system is designed to intercept short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the base's importance in bolstering transatlantic security against the rising threat of ballistic missiles. He noted that it is a critical component of a larger missile defense network extending from Turkey, through Romania, and into Poland.
"Given our alliance's defensive posture, addressing this threat is essential. Missile defense is fundamental to NATO's core mission of collective defense," Stoltenberg stated, pointing out the frequent use of ballistic missiles in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk remarked: "We have a fully operational NATO base in Poland, integrated into the NATO system. This is a significant step forward, showing that Poland is part of the NATO and American defense systems, making our country safer."
The base was officially deemed mission-ready by NATO on Wednesday, after experiencing nearly six years of delays.
(jh)
Source: IAR
Click on the player icon above to listen to an audio report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.
