On Saturday, July the 30th , 2022, the head of the Ministry of National Defence participated in Poznań in ceremony of receiving the distinctive name “CAMP KOŚCIUSZKO” for Forward Operating Site U.S. Army V Corps in Poland.

The ceremony was also attended by the commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, General Darryl A. Williams, and the commander of the US V Corps, Lieutenant General John S. Kolasheski.

V Corps Headquarters (Forward) in Poland, based in Poznań, is the only structure of this level of command deployed in Europe. Its main task is to coordinate the activities and supervision of US land forces in Europe, operational planning as well as cooperation and synchronization of US forces with the forces of other NATO countries. The command plays a key role in the integration of American troops deployed in Poland and the synchronization of their cooperation with our armed forces. This realistically increases the interoperability of Polish and American troops.

In his speech, the head of the Ministry of National Defence recalled the words of General Tadeusz Kościuszko, emphasizing the solidarity of the Polish and American nations towards each other.

“Tadeusz Kościuszko said:" For the voice of the Matherland, all reflections, all considerations should disappear "and this is what happens in Polish-American relations. When the United States was hit by the epidemic, the mission of Polish military soldiers flew to the state of Illinois (this state is home to the greatest number of Americans of Polish origin, therefore these relations between Poland and the state of Illinois are the closest). But when war broke out beyond our eastern border and Russia invaded Ukraine, the presence of US troops in Poland increased in numbers"

- said the head of the Ministry of National Defence during the ceremony.

During his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak emphasized the importance of strengthening relations with the armed forces of the United States and the role played by the V Corps Headquarters (Forward) in Poland.

"Our task is to strengthen relations by building interoperability between our armed forces, which is why we value the presence of US troops on Polish soil so much, we highly value the presence of the V Corps Headquarters (Forward) here in Poznań, because from Poznań, the V. Corps commands American forces in Europe, and thus prepares operational plans, coordinates military activities aimed at deterring the aggressor and strengthening the defence values of the allied forces"

- emphasized Deputy Prime Minister Błaszczak.

Speaking to those gathered at the ceremony, the head of the Ministry of National Defence referred to the agreement on enhanced defence cooperation between Poland and the US signed in 2020, which is the crowning achievement of Polish-American negotiations on increasing the number of US troops in Poland, and emphasized the importance of the decisions of the last NATO summit in Madrid. 

“An important historical event on the map of increasing and strengthening relations between Poland and the United States is the signing of an agreement on the enhanced presence of American troops in Poland almost two years ago. It was also a symbolic event, because this agreement was signed on August 15, 2020, on the centenary of the victorious Battle of Warsaw, when the soldiers of the Polish army stopped the Bolshevik onslaught on Europe and the second such important event is the event from a month ago when President Biden during the summit NATO in Madrid announced the permanent presence of American troops in Poland,  precisely the constant presence of soldiers from the V Corps Headquarters (Forward) (...) This is an important and ground-breaking decision for which we are grateful to the US authorities"

- said the head of the Ministry of National Defence.

At the end of his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Błaszczak addressed special words of appreciation to the American soldiers who are present on Polish soil and serve alongside the Polish soldiers, offering his thanks to the General Darryl A. Williams, the commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, and the commander of the V Corps, Lieutenant General John S. Kolasheski. 

During the ceremony, the commander of the United States Army in Europe and Africa, General Darryl A. Williams, also spoke.

“The heart of the Polish soldier is strong, the heart of the US soldier is strong. Together they cannot be defeated. We are ready, we stand ready with you, shoulder to shoulder, we are not leaving”

- General Williams told the audience.

Commander of the US Army's V Corps, Lieutenant General John S. Kolasheski, emphasized in his speech that "the relationship between our countries is also a long-term friendship between our nations, long-term based on common values and commitments".

After the ceremony of receiving the distinctive name for Forward Operating Site U.S. Army V Corps in Poland "CAMP KOŚCIUSZKO", Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak met with the commander of the United States Army in Europe and Africa, General Darryl A. Williams.

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