The United States announced Tuesday that it approved the sale of 18 Himars rocket launch systems to Polanda NATO member country bordering Ukraine, for 10,000 million dollars.
The Polish executive has asked Washington to purchase 18 high-mobility rocket systems, which the United States has sent to Ukraine to face the Russian invasion.
The request also includes 45 ATACMS long-range missileswhich the White House has refused to send to Ukraine and which Poland could not transfer to kyiv without prior authorization from Washington.
“The planned sale will enhance Poland’s military objectives of upgrading its capabilities while further improving interoperability with the United States and other allies,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
“Poland intends to use these defense items and services to modernize its armed forces (…) strengthen its national defense and deter regional threats”Add.
In any case, the Pentagon assured that, if the purchase is completed, the military balances in the region will not be altered.
The US Department of State has approved the possible sale and the DSCA has notified this Tuesday to Congress, which has yet to authorize the transaction.
Himars systems (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) They are multiple rocket launchers mounted on light armored vehicles, with a range of about 80 kilometers.
Poland and other countries on NATO’s eastern flank are increasingly concerned about the possibility of a new Russian offensive in Ukraine along their borders as the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches.
The Polish Government has undertaken a modernization and expansion of its armed forces by increasing its military budget to 3% of the gross domestic product and purchasing state-of-the-art material to replace the weapons delivered to Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieckisaid last week that Poland would be willing to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if a consensus of all NATO countries is reached.
“If there was a decision from all (NATO member states), I would be in favor of sending these fighters,” Morawiecki said in an interview with the German newspaper. Bild.
“My assessment depends on what the NATO member countries decide jointly,” he added, stressing the need for “strategic reflection by NATO as a whole.”
The Western allies advanced military aid to Ukraine when Germany and the United States announced the shipment of heavy tanks.
However, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky asked his allies for long-range missiles and fighter jets to counter the offensive of the Kremlin troops.
Three European countries announced on Tuesday the shipment “in the coming months” of a hundred Leopard 1 heavy tanks to Ukraine to repel the offensive of Russian troops, who assured that the advance in the east is a “success”.
The announcement coincided with a surprise visit to kyiv by the new German Defense Minister, Boris Pistoriusand while the Ukrainian leadership continues to demand that its Western allies speed up the shipment of the promised tanks.
“At least 100 Leopard 1 A5 tanks” will be delivered “in the coming months”indicated the defense ministers of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark in a joint statement.
With information from AFP and EFE
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Source-www.infobae.com