WARSAW — America’ army will withdraw troops and tools from Jasionka, a logistics hub in southeastern Poland that provides most weapons being despatched to Ukraine, a transfer it mentioned would save “tens of tens of millions of {dollars}.”
“After three years at Jasionka this is a chance to right-size our footprint,” mentioned Christopher Donahue, commanding normal of U.S. Military Europe and Africa.
“Duties beforehand carried out by U.S. forces in Jasionka at the moment are being taken over by different allies,” Polish Protection Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz mentioned Tuesday on X. “U.S. troops stay in Poland, however are stationed at completely different places. The mission in Jasionka is now primarily carried out by Norwegian, German, British, and Polish forces, together with different allied troops.”
The transfer comes amid rising European worries in regards to the U.S. dedication to European protection beneath President Donald Trump, who has threatened to not shield NATO international locations he thinks are underspending on protection, in addition to threatening the sovereignty of NATO members Greenland and Canada.
The U.S. army insisted Monday that the choice is a part of a “long-planned effort to optimize operations whereas preserving assist for Ukraine and NATO robust.”
Positioned near the Ukrainian border, Jasionka airport has served as a important staging space for U.S., NATO and companion forces since 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As much as 95 % of the army help to Ukraine strikes by means of Jasionka, Poland’s protection ministry mentioned in January.
The U.S. army has performed a lead function in operating the airfield and in delivery weapons to Ukraine. It mentioned: “The necessary work of facilitating army assist to Ukraine by way of Jasionka will proceed beneath Polish and NATO management, supported by a streamlined U.S. army footprint. Poland and its allies will keep the sturdy protecting infrastructure round this important website.”
Germany just lately took over safety of the positioning with its personal Patriot air protection batteries.
U.S. forces can be moved to different places in Poland — the place it completely stations about 10,000 troops. A spokesperson for U.S. Military Europe and Africa advised POLITICO in an emailed response: “As a result of operational safety functions we’re not in a position to present with particular dates [when] these actions are going down.”
Poland’s protection ministry mentioned the hub’s operation is continuous uninterrupted, including that the trouble to shift extra of a burden to non-U.S. allies stemmed from choices taken eventually 12 months’s NATO summit in Washington, creating a brand new command known as NATO Safety Help and Coaching for Ukraine.
“Their earlier duties at Jasionka are being taken over by different allied forces … All operations on the logistics hub are operating with out disruption, and tools is being redirected effectively in accordance with established procedures,” the ministry mentioned.
Trump has lengthy lambasted NATO international locations for not spending sufficient on protection, however Poland has been singled out for reward. It allocates 4.7 % of gross home product for its army, the best degree within the alliance.
Regardless of rising worries about Trump’s shift towards Russia, his strain on Ukraine to succeed in a peace cope with Russia and the commerce warfare he unleashed final week towards a lot of the world — together with NATO allies — Polish officers proceed to emphasize that the U.S. is a key ally—an evaluation echoed by Washington.
“Your assist has exemplified the shut ties between our nations and enhanced the power of our U.S.-Poland partnership. As we adapt to evolving wants, this transition permits us to maintain our shut cooperation whereas utilizing sources extra effectively,” mentioned Daniel Lawton, chargé d’affaires on the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.