The U.S. Military Europe and Africa Command introduced on April 8 that American personnel and tools shall be relocated from Poland's Jasionka Airport, a key logistics hub for delivering army assist to Ukraine.
"The necessary work of facilitating army assist to Ukraine through Jasionka will proceed beneath Polish and NATO management, supported by a streamlined U.S. army footprint," the command mentioned in an announcement.
The redeployment, which can transfer belongings to different places in Poland, follows months of planning and is a part of a broader technique to optimize U.S. army operations throughout the area.
"Poland is a superb host," mentioned Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding basic of U.S. Military Europe and Africa. "After three years at Jasionka this is a chance to right-size our footprint and save American taxpayers tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} per 12 months."
Polish President Andrzej Duda responded to the announcement by assuring that the transfer doesn’t signify a U.S. troop withdrawal.
"I don't know if that is being carried out at this level. The very subject of taking duty for the safety problems with the Rzeszow airport, its safety, I do know," Duda mentioned throughout a press convention in Tallinn.
The U.S. army has operated in Jasionka, close to Rzeszow, since early 2022. The airport shortly turned one of the vital necessary logistical factors for coordinating Western assist to Ukraine, protected by American Patriot air protection methods.
The ability is situated lower than 62 miles from the Ukrainian border and transports a big share of Western materiel sure for the entrance strains. Additionally it is a important stopover level for international management touring to Kyiv on official visits.
In March 2023, Warsaw detained a minimum of 16 members of a Russian spy ring tasked with gathering info on the variety of transports to Ukraine within the area surrounding the airport, the extent of safety measures in place, and the kind of tools.
The redeployment comes amid rising considerations in Europe over a possible drawdown of U.S. forces. NBC Information reported on April 8 that senior Protection Division officers are weighing a plan to withdraw as much as 10,000 U.S. troops from Jap Europe.
U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" doctrine and up to date statements from U.S. officers have raised alarm amongst NATO allies about Washington's long-term dedication to European protection.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy