Speaking in Fort Knox, Kentucky, during a two-day visit to America, Mariusz Błaszczak said: "Polish-American military cooperation is deeply rooted in the history of our nations. We fought side by side during World War II, in the Balkans, in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Błaszczak added: "These very close military relations were cemented in 1999 when Poland joined NATO. Another important step deepening our relations was the signing of an agreement on enhanced defense cooperation between Poland and the United States in 2020."
"Today, the scope of our cooperation is as broad as ever and is constantly expanding," Błaszczak also said. "We cooperate in areas such as joint missions and operations, military interoperability and modern armaments."
Błaszczak on Tuesday attended a ceremony in which Polish general Maciej Jabłoński replaced countryman Adam Joks as deputy commander of the US Army V Corps, which is dual-headquartered in Fort Knox and the western Polish city of Poznań, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
During the ceremony, Błaszczak thanked Joks "for his dedication to service as V Corps Deputy Commander for Interoperability."
Joks, a major general and the first Polish officer to be assigned to a US military outfit since the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century, joined US Army V Corps in August 2021.
During a send-off ceremony in Poznań, western Poland, in the summer of 2021, Błaszczak said that Joks was "the first Polish man to assume such an elevated position in the US Army command since Polish American military heroes Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski."
Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak (right) and Maj. Gen. Adam Joks during a send-off ceremony in Poznań, western Poland, in July 2021. Photo: PAP/Marek Zakrzewski
Joks will now return to Poland to continue service in the Polish Land Forces, according to the US Army.
Błaszczak on Tuesday congratulated Jabłoński, Joks' successor, on his new appointment, saying that the incoming Polish deputy commander "has moved to the US Army V Corps straight from the position of inspector of the Land Forces."
Maj. Gen. Maciej Jabłoński. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
He described Jabłoński as "a very experienced and dynamic officer with comprehensive knowledge."
Błaszczak also praised Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski, a senior US military officer with Polish roots, for his "commitment to the development of Polish-US cooperation and formation of V Corps structures in Poland."
"Your vision of the Corps' role and responsibility in providing deterrence, with your skillful command, has proven credible and effective," Błaszczak said, addressing Kolasheski.
The Polish defence minister also said, as quoted by his office: "Cooperation of the Polish Armed Forces with the V Corps, especially today, is of great importance. We are facing the most serious security threat since World War II. Russia's brutal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine has changed the security environment."
Earlier on Tuesday, Błaszczak joined his NATO counterparts and officials from dozens of countries for a virtual meeting to discuss further support for Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion.
He attended the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group via video link from Fort Knox, the Polish defence ministry said.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 510 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.