US and Polish officials open missile defense site that Russia has long protested

By  VANESSA GERA

Updated 12:53 PM CST, November 13, 2024

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — U.S. and Polish officials inaugurated a NATO missile defense base in northern Poland on Wednesday, with Polish officials welcoming it as a significant step in securing the country and the NATO alliance at a time of war in neighboring Ukraine.

The U.S. missile defense base, which is being integrated into NATO’s defenses, was originally planned under U.S. President George W. Bush to protect Europe from ballistic threats from Iran. Poland, however, has always seen it as a form of U.S. protection in case of Russian aggression, fears that have grown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

https://apnews.com/article/poland-missile-defense-us-d21671b55761c0cc6e92637c5f55f8cb