A group photo of the president and the minister of national defence with Polish and American soldiers participating in the Defender Europe 20 exercise in Drawsko Pomorskie. Military equipment in the background.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 the President of the Republic of Poland - Head of the Armed Forces Andrzej Duda and the Minister of National Defence met with Polish and US soldiers participating in the DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise. The first columns of US soldiers and equipment entered Poland on February 28. At that time the largest US exercise related to the transfer of US Army forces to Europe officially began in our country.

A total of several thousand US soldiers and allied forces (mainly German and British) with equipment will come to Poland.

- These are exercises that primarily improve the skills of soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces, these are exercises that strongly determine the security of Poland and NATO's eastern flank - emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defence.

US troops transfers include components from multiple ground forces divisions, National Guard units, and US Army reserve units. An additional 9,000 US soldiers already stationed in Europe and about 8,000 soldiers from other countries are planned to participate in the exercise.

At the briefing with the Polish and US commanders of the armed forces grouped in the Drawsko Land Forces Training Center, the President and the Minister of National Defence heard about the current situation and the status of implementation of tasks exercised by soldiers. Reports were made by the commander of the 12th Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Sławomir Dudczak and commander of the 2nd US Army infantry battalion.

- The key to safety is also interoperability, raising the skills of Polish soldiers in exercises such as these, the Defender Europe 2020 - Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said at a meeting with Polish and US soldiers participating in the DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise.

Nearly 37,000 soldiers from 18 countries will participate in Defender Europe 20 and a series of combined exercises, 20,000 will be transferred to our continent directly from the United States. Poland actively participates in the exercise. Our contribution is not only nearly 3,000 soldiers and heavy equipment, aviation, road infrastructure, railways or ports, but also a very large group from the civil sector and other services, such as the Police, Border Guard and Fire Services.

The strategic shift of forces exercised under DEFENDER-Europe 20 is one of the key capabilities necessary to ensure Poland's lasting security. This exercise is an expression of the joint commitment of allied states to security.

DEFENDER-Europe 20 underlines the determination of the United States of America to defend its European allies and partners. Entrusting Poland with the role of one of the host countries is also an expression of the US side's confidence in Poland as an ally, as discussed by the US Ambassador in Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, present in Drawsko:

- The United States is sending 20,000 sons and daughters, soldiers from the continent, well trained, ready to die for the US, allies, Poland. There is no better proof to confirm US involvement - said Ambassador Mosbacher.

President Andrzej Duda pointed out the importance of cooperation between member states of the North Atlantic Alliance as the basis for collective defence:

- The presence of significant US forces in Poland is a very good sign for us, because it means security for Poland, for the Baltic States, for this part of NATO. This security results, among others from the fact that the exercise Defender Europe shows in practice the mechanism of article five of the North Atlantic Treaty. Exercise in a visible way strengthens the presence of US troops in Poland - said the president.

In addition to the troops directly training in the exercise, the armed forces to support DEFENDER-Europe 20 will also engage their logistics potential in a total of almost 10,000 soldiers. Poland has extensive experience in hosting allied troops on its territory. The scale of this exercise requires the involvement of both military authorities and local authorities in the provinces that will accept soldiers and equipment of allies.

Host country support is crucial for the country's defence and our credibility as a partner and ally in NATO. Allied forces coming to Poland will benefit, among others from road, rail, air and sea infrastructure as well as services such as accommodation or messing. Polish military institutions and units will be responsible for securing the transport and movement of troops, providing material (e.g. fuel) and technical means, as well as medical protection, communication, army protection, legal services and activities in many other areas.

Like many other exercises involving NATO allies, DEFENDER-Europe 20 is a defensive exercise and is not aimed at anyone.

>>> GALLERY - The largest military exercise in years has started - DEFENDER Europe 20

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More information about DEFENDER-Europe 20 at: https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/defender-europe-20