Warsaw Hopes For Expansion of NATO Military Presence in Poland

Sputnik News

20:16 21.03.2015(updated 20:36 21.03.2015)

Polish Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak said that Poland hopes for more American or NATO forces to be deployed in the country.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Authorities in Warsaw hope that NATO will expand its military presence in Poland, Polish Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak said Saturday.

"During the 16 years of [Poland's membership] in NATO we have always taken the side of the United States and the United States have taken our side when we needed it. We hope for more American forces, allied forces [to be deployed] in Poland," Siemoniak said as quoted by TVN television, as he was visiting the Atlantic Resolve military exercises in Sochaczew together with US Ambassador Stephen Mull.

Siemoniak added that the year 2015 will be the year of "many joint Polish-American projects."

"The United States are here to support and protect the Poles," the minister said.

Joint US-Polish military exercises began near the town of Sochaczew, in Central Poland, on Saturday. Earlier in March, Polish Ministry of National Defense said that about 100 US troops, some 30 vehicles and a battery of US Patriot missile systems will take part in the drills that will last for several days.

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