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Poland, US set to deepen defence ties: minister

12.02.2021 08:00
Poland and the United States will continue working to deepen their defence ties, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said after a phone talk with US President Joe Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Mariusz Błaszczak
Mariusz BłaszczakPAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Błaszczak said in a Twitter post that they had a “good talk” on Thursday and that Austin accepted an invitation to visit Poland.

"We confirmed plans to deepen our defence cooperation,” Błaszczak tweeted.

“Together, we will be working to strengthen and develop the deterrence and defence potential of Poland and the entire eastern flank of NATO," he added.

Błaszczak also announced that during the talk Austin invited him to visit the Pentagon.

Austin said in a tweet that he and Błaszczak "discussed Poland’s commitment to defense modernization, U.S. force presence in Poland, regional security" and the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries.

"I look forward to working together to strengthen the NATO Alliance," Austin added.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Photo: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Poland's president in November ratified a major military deal with the United States under which at least 1,000 extra American troops are expected to be stationed in the NATO eastern-flank country.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, PAP, defense.gov