On November 13, the United States opened a new missile defense base in Redzikowo, a town in northern Poland near the Baltic Sea, as reported by Reuters.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said the new base reinforces Poland’s security as a NATO member, especially given its close location to the war in Ukraine.
“The United States is a guarantor of Poland’s security,” Duda stated, noting that the continued presence of US forces helps keep Poland outside "Russia’s sphere of influence."
The base was opened amid questions about future US support for NATO following Donald Trump’s recent election victory. Trump had previously said he might reconsider defending countries that don’t invest enough in their own defense, sparking some concerns within NATO.
Duda expressed confidence in Poland’s good relationship with Trump and reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to supporting NATO.
The Redzikowo base is part of NATO’s “Aegis Ashore” missile defense system, which aims to intercept short- and medium-range missiles. Other parts of the system include a base in Romania, US navy ships in Spain, and a radar system in Turkey.
The Kremlin has criticized the base since it was first proposed in 2007, claiming it poses a “threat” to Russia’s security. NATO insists that the missile defense system is purely defensive.
Polish Armed Forces Chief General Wiesław Kukuła recently stated that Poland will not intercept Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory.
