German military may disband Patriot air defence units in Poland, Slovakia this year
According to the spokeswoman, the deployment in Poland should terminate in June while the one in Slovakia would stop by the end of the year
Serviceman patrols in front of the Patriot air defence system. Reuters File
Berlin: As Berlin strives to make the most of its constrained military resources, it has been reported that the German military may disband its Patriot anti-defence units in NATO allies Slovakia and Poland this year.
“The nations have been informed about the plans,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence was quoted as saying by Funke media group.
According to the spokeswoman, the deployment in Poland should terminate in June while the one in Slovakia would stop by the end of the year.
After two men were killed by a stray Ukrainian missile that struck the Polish town of Przewodow in November, Berlin promised to send three of its Patriot units to Poland to assist safeguard its airspace.
While the Patriot air defence system began arriving in Slovakia from NATO partner nations last March, just after the start of the war in Ukraine, to assist boost the protection of NATO’s eastern border, Germany sent the first two of the three units to Poland in January.
The German government has also delivered a Patriot system from army stocks will also be delivered to Ukraine this year.
Germany had 36 Patriot units when it was NATO’s frontline state during the Cold War. Today, the German forces are down to 11 Patriot units.
“If the situation allows it, it makes sense to change the situation. We need the flexibility because we don’t have an infinite amount of equipment,” Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the head of the German parliament’s defence committee was quoted as saying by Funke.
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
Ukraine, Poland to launch joint production of Soviet-era tank shells
The war-torn country will provide the technology and send its specialists to Polish cities where production facilities will be located given high security risks, since Russia has carried out long-range air strikes on targets in Ukraine throughout the duration of the war
EU preps to contain internal quarrel over Ukrainian grain imports
The EU is also preparing more technical measures to keep the concerns of farmers from turning into a geopolitical problem that would make the EU look weak and divided as Russia continues to occupy large swaths of neighbouring Ukraine
British man drinks himself to death in strip club after downing 22 shots in 90 minutes
Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office said the British man, who was a tourist in the country, had a blood alcohol content of at least 0.4%, which is considered lethal