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New US Army HQ to begin operations in Poland

20.11.2020 09:30
A new US Army headquarters will begin operating in Poland on Friday, officials have announced.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

The new forward command post of the U.S. Army’s Fifth Corps is scheduled to be launched at noon in the western Polish city of Poznań, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Officials including Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and the US ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, are expected to attend the high-profile launch.

The ceremony comes after Poland’s president this month ratified a major military deal with the United States under which at least 1,000 extra American troops are expected to be stationed in his country.

The new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed by the two countries in Warsaw in August.

Duda said on November 9 that "the US military presence strengthens the security of this part of Europe, strengthens the security of the NATO alliance, and is a guarantee that Article 5 of the [North] Atlantic Treaty will be respected."

The deal had long been sought by Poland, a staunch US military ally fearful of Russia. Around 4,500 American troops are already stationed in Poland on a rotating basis.

The western Polish city of Poznań was in September named as the location of a forward command post of the U.S. Army's Fifth Corps headquarters.

Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski, a senior US military officer with Polish roots, was in August introduced as the commander of the new US Army headquarters in Poland.

Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski. Photo: PAP/Łukasz Gągulski Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski. Photo: PAP/Łukasz Gągulski

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR