The US provides Polish diplomacy: we stay in Europe. What about the reduction of the number of troops?

From various areas of the elite in Washington, we hear that the presence of the United States military force in Europe will be maintained – said the head of the Polish embassy in Washington Bogdan Klich on Tuesday at the Think -Tank CNAS conference. He said, he hopes that there will be no reduction of the number of soldiers, at least in the region of Central Europe.

“There are various news from different corners of the political elite; here in Washington we are after several consultations with the current administration and to be honest, we are happy with the results of these consultations. Because both from the Department of State and the Hall of the Department of Defense, we – when I say we, I mean Polish diplomacy – we receive the same message: that the presence of the military power of the United States in Europe will be maintained.” Klich during a panel discussion with Great Britain and EU ambassadors at the Center for New American Security (CNAS) in Washington.

He noted that Poland is very carefully followed by a budget process and a review of the global distribution of US forces.

“This is important not only for the deterrence of the eastern flank. This is important for Europe as a whole. And let me remind you of the famous wording from the beginning of NATO, saying: let's keep Americans inside, Russians outside. And now I would add: Let's make the European Union to be stronger. So this message from administration is satisfying for us,” he said. He said later, he hopes that the American presence will be supported at least in Central Europe.

During the discussion, Klich also referred to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian strategic aviation bases, congratulating Ukraine and indicating this as a reason for optimism when it comes to the security of Europe.

British Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson also commented on the matter of war in Ukraine, arguing that Monday talks of Russia and Ukraine's delegations only confirmed that Russia is not interested in serious peace conversations.

“What do we do in such circumstances when Putin is not interested? I think we have to do two things. We need to increase the pressure on Putin to degrade the Russian war machine. And secondly, we must increase our deliveries for Ukrainians everything they need to change the balance of power on the battlefield” – he called. At the same time, he declared that both London and the states of the Union are ready to do it – even when the US is withdrawn from the trial – because Russia is a growing threat to the entire continent.

EU Ambassador Jovita Neliupse emphasized that EU and US economies are very close to each other and that possible trade friction also affects the cooperation of defense industries. She also noted that Donald Trump was right in two issues: the need to bear greater defense expenditure, as well as becoming independence from Russian energy sources. As she said, in the latter issue the Union made great progress and in 2 years plans to completely go to Russian raw materials.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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