Poland receives US army equipment in effort to bolster eastern flank against Russia

U.S. military equipment has begun to arrive in Poland, the Polish defence ministry said on Friday, to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank as the West and Russia wrangle over Russia’s military presence near the Ukrainian border.

President Joe Biden’s administration announced on Wednesday the deployment of nearly 3,000 American troops to eastern Europe in the coming days amid a standoff with Russia over Ukraine.

Around 1,700 soldiers from the Fort Bragg-based 82nd Airborne Division are meant to come to Poland, Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and the Pentagon said on Wednesday, but only on a temporary basis.

In addition, roughly 300 troops will be based in Germany, where a joint headquarters is expected to be set up.

Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced on Thursday evening that an “advance group” had already arrived in Poland.