Germany wants to withdraw Patriot anti-missile systems from Poland and Slovakia by June, a spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense said. “Countries have already been informed about this,” he added.
According to the current plans of the Bundeswehr, the German Patriot air defense system will be withdrawn from Polish territory by June. A spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense explained the decision by saying that “Berlin is trying to make the best use of its limited military resources.”
“Countries have been informed of the plans,” said a Defense Ministry spokesman, quoted by the Funke media group on Friday. The stationing of Patriots in Poland should end in June, while on Slovakia by the end of the year, he added.
The American Patriot surface-to-air missile system at the Warsaw-Radom airportPAP/Pawel Supernak
Germany will withdraw Patriot systems from Poland and Slovakia
Reuters recalls that Germany sent the first Patriot units to Poland in January this year, while they arrived in Slovakia from partner countries FOR THIS in March last year, shortly after it started war in Ukraineto strengthen the defense of the Alliance’s eastern flank.
The German dpa quotes the chair of the German defense commission, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who told the Funke group that “missions must be constantly monitored and evaluated.” “If the situation allows it, then the change makes sense,” she said and added: “we need flexibility because we don’t have equipment indefinitely.”
The proposal to deploy the German Patriots in Poland was put forward by Germany after the explosion of a rocket in Przewodowo near the border on November 15 last year.
Main photo source: PAP/Pawel Supernak