Andrzej Duda has stated the Aegis facility at Redzikowo was by no means about protection in opposition to ‘Iranian ICBMs’
The missile protection facility at Redzikowo isn’t about intercepting ballistic missiles from Iran, however about shifting Poland into the US zone of affect and away from Russia, Polish President Andrzej Duda has revealed.
The Aegis Ashore facility on the Baltic Beach was proposed within the early 2000s, after the US repudiated the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty. Washington assured Moscow on the time that the longer term bases in Romania and Poland weren’t aimed in opposition to Russia however in opposition to “rogue states” akin to Iran or North Korea.
Talking on the opening ceremony for the Redzikowo base on Wednesday, Duda quoted the phrases of the Polish president on the time, Lech Kaczynski, revealing the true goal of the missile base.
“Andrzej, these missiles won’t defend Poland,” Duda stated. “They’ll really defend areas far, distant from Poland from missiles that might probably be launched from Iran, for instance. However this can be an American missile base, which is able to comprise a few of the biggest secrets and techniques of the US and which the US will guard.”
“And this is essential, as a result of this American base can be constructed on our soil, in Poland,” Duda continued, quoting his predecessor. “And from that second, when this base stands right here, the entire world will see clearly that that is not the Russian zone of affect. And from the Polish standpoint, that is crucial factor strategically.”
Talking for himself, Duda stated he was happy that the US now had 10,000 troops in Poland and stated American troopers would at all times be welcome on his nation’s soil.
“If someplace on this planet somebody is sad with having American troopers and an American base, then come to us, we cordially invite you,” the Polish president stated. “We are going to at all times welcome you with pleasure.”
Polish Overseas Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who additionally spoke on the ceremony, stated it was “not a coincidence” that Warsaw and Washington signed the deal for the bottom simply days after the Russo-Georgian conflict of August 2008.
Polish Protection Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz known as the opening of the bottom “a rare occasion within the historical past of the safety of Poland” and additional proof that Warsaw “is an effective ally” of the US. He famous that Polish troops fought alongside the Individuals in Afghanistan and Iraq, even earlier than becoming a member of NATO.
Moscow has lengthy maintained that Washington’s claims in regards to the goal of Aegis bases have been disingenuous, and that their actual goal was to increase NATO infrastructure eastwards to comprise Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Russia will reply to the opening of Redzikowo by “adopting acceptable measures to make sure parity.”