A long-planned US missile defence base was officially opened in northern Poland on Wednesday.
The military base in Redzikowo is located about a hundred kilometres west of Gdansk and is part of NATO’s missile defence system on the continent.
The system, which also includes a similar base in Romania, was planned under former US president George W Bush, who left office in 2009.
It was originally intended to protect Europe from the threat of missile strikes by Iran. In Poland, however, it was also always seen as protection against Russian aggression.
“The whole world will see clearly and unambiguously that this is no longer a Russian sphere of influence,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda at the opening ceremony in Redzikowo.
Poland, a member of both the EU and NATO, is one of the most committed supporters of Ukraine, which has been under a full-scale invasion by Russia since 2022. The country also plays an important role as a logistical hub for Western military aid to Kiev.
The Aegis Ashore Missile Defence System
The base in Redzikowo is equipped with the US Aegis Ashore Missile Defence System, which can detect, track and destroy missiles. The system was originally developed for US Navy warships but has been modified for use on land.
While the base for Aegis Ashore in Deveselu, Romania, began operating in 2016, preparations for the base that has now opened in Poland were delayed for years.
Criticism from Moscow
US military infrastructure is advancing on European territory towards Russia’s borders, complained Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday.
“This is nothing more than an attempt to contain our military potential, and of course we will decide on appropriate measures to ensure parity,” he said.
Moscow claims that the launch systems in Poland and Romania could theoretically be used to fire not only interceptor missiles but also nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.
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Publish date : 2024-11-13 12:08:00
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