The U.S. sent two PATRIOT surface-to-air missile batteries to Poland in preparation to enforce a no-fly zone over that country and parts of its border with Ukraine.
Deploying Patriot batteries to Poland will make it difficult for Russian warplanes to fly in the targeted area.
“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander of U.S. European Command, has directed U.S. Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland,” United States European Command (EUCOM) spokesman Capt. Adam Miller said in a statement.
This development came hours after the Pentagon rejected Poland’s proposal to transfer its MiG-29s to a U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany to support Ukraine.
“We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Earlier, Poland had offered all of its MiG-29 fighter jets to the U.S. “immediately and free of charge” as part of a plan to provide aircraft to the Ukrainians.
The U.S. had offered F-16 aircraft to Poland if it donates its MiG-29 and other Soviet-era aircraft to Ukraine. Unlike European countries, the Ukrainian Air Force does not operate U.S.-built aircraft such as F-16s, so the Ukrainian pilots will need to undergo requisite training for flying these jets. Transferring MiG-29s to Kyiv would’ve been the easiest and fastest option to fulfil its need.
Also read: France Deploys Rafale Jets to Poland Amid Russian Invasion of Ukraine
“This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory,” Miller said, adding the missiles “will in no way support any offensive operations.”
“Every step we take is intended to deter aggression and reassure our allies,” he added.
Ukraine’s President has demanded to declare his country’s airspace a no-fly zone, which could trigger a third World War.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, has consistently dismissed the idea of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, telling NBC on February 28 that “we have no intention of moving into Ukraine, either on the ground or in the air.”
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has indicated that if a no-fly zone is imposed, then Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters may be forced to target Russian planes, resulting in a far larger confrontation.
The Netherlands will deploy Patriot Missile Systems to Slovakia
The Netherlands is also sending a Patriot air defense system and around 150 troops to Slovakia.
Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said after a Cabinet meeting regarding the war that the decision to deploy the system was made “to reinforce the eastern flank of NATO.”
She added that the Netherlands and Germany agreed in principle to provide air defense systems to Slovakia, adding: “This is really important for the direct threat we are currently experiencing.”
