The build-up of the US military contingent in Poland exacerbates the difficult situation near Russia's Western borders and contributes to the escalation of tension, a comment published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday by the official representative of the diplomatic agency Maria Zakharova reads.
"Once again, we must point out that the buildup of a US military presence in Poland will not resolve any security problem. On the contrary, it complicates an already difficult situation at Russia’s western borders and contributes to the escalation of tensions while increasing the risk of unexpected incidents," she noted.
Zakharova added that the Russian side sees NATO’s assurances that the agreement only provides for an insignificant and rotational contingent of reinforcements are "simply attempts to distort reality".
"The implementation of the agreement will allow the sides to fundamentally increase the offensive potential of US forces in Poland," the comment reads.
At the same time, this agreement did not come as a surprise, since it is a formalization of the agreements reached in 2019 by the presidents of Poland and the United States, Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump, the official representative of the Foreign Ministry explained. "The anti-Russia message in this document is beyond doubt, and is in fact emphasised by US and Polish officials in every possible way. The agreed-upon measures fully meet the guidelines of the recent NATO summits that have reaffirmed a course of “containing” Russia, creating division lines and escalating tensions in Europe, while refusing to cooperate on the common goals proclaimed in OSCE documents after the end of the Cold War, the goals to create a common space of cooperation and trust," the text reads.
Zakharova recalled that these plans changed the terms of European security and run counter to the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act. "The US is again demonstrating its willingness, if this is what is required by its interests, to forego not only their commitments under multilateral agreements but also the opinion of the majority of the European states. This completely discredits statements by NATO functionaries that the alliance is interested in enhancing security and reducing tensions in Europe. Russia’s specific proposals on de-escalation along Russia-NATO contact lines remain unanswered," Zakharova noted.
"We urge the NATO states to give up their stake on confrontation with us and return to restraint in the spirit of the Russia-NATO Founding Act. It is also clear it that it is high time to conduct a practical and sincere dialogue on European security and restore our military contacts," Zakharova concluded.
About the US-Poland Treaty
On August 15, an agreement was signed in Warsaw between the governments of Poland and the United States to strengthen military cooperation. According to the Polish Defense Ministry, the most important result of the agreement is the creation in October of this year of the forward command of the US 5th corps in Poland. This unit will be responsible for the command of the US armed forces located on the Eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. The agreement also provides for the possibility of further increasing the number of American troops in Poland and defines the legal framework for the presence of American soldiers.
Poland and the United States have been discussing options for strengthening the American military presence on Polish territory since the fall of 2018, when the initiative to create a "Fort Trump" in the country was first announced during Andrzej Duda's visit to Washington. Currently, according to various sources, from 4.5 thousand to 5 thousand US military personnel are stationed in Poland. In accordance with the signed agreement, at least 1,000 additional American troops will be transferred to Poland.
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Based on materials from TASS