German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Photo: depositphotos.
Air defence units may be deployed to Poland again in 2025
29 November 2024 – German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has proposed to redeploy units of Germany’s Patriot air defence systems to Poland early next year. The initiative envisages the temporary deployment of installations to protect strategically important logistics hubs that supply materials to Ukraine, and highlights the growing security risks in the region, Time Ukraine Israel reports, citing Liga.
Protecting a key logistics hub
According to Pistorius, the six-month deployment of Patriot systems in Poland will help secure one of the main logistics routes that facilitates the supply of weapons and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. “With this step, we are protecting the logistics hub in Poland, which is crucial for the supply of materials to Ukraine,” the minister said.
Reaction of the Polish leadership
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosińiak-Kamysz welcomed the initiative, stressing its importance for stability in Eastern Europe. According to him, Germany’s decision is another important step in strengthening security on NATO’s eastern flank, where the situation remains tense due to Russia’s aggressive actions.
Previous experience of Patriot deployment in Poland
This is not the first time that Germany has deployed its Patriot systems on Polish territory. Between January and November 2023, three air defence units were deployed to Poland, along with more than 300 German troops. They were based in the town of Zastoń, 50 km from the border with Ukraine, to protect the railway lines that carry aid to Kyiv.
Reasons for the decision: the threat of escalation
The decision to deploy the Patriot system was made after an incident in November 2022, when a missile hit the Polish village of Przewodów, killing two people. The incident sent an important signal to NATO that tensions on the Alliance’s borders had increased significantly and that there were real threats of conflict escalation.
Thus, Germany, in response to current security challenges, is once again ready to provide Poland with the necessary resources to protect strategically important facilities. The decision to redeploy Patriot, which is to be implemented in early 2025, once again underlines the importance of cooperation between NATO countries in response to Russian aggression and ensuring stability in Europe.
