US provides $2 billion loan to modernize Poland's army
Duda said that his country will continue to supply Ukraine with military aid, but only old military equipment
The United States announced the signing of a $2 billion Foreign Military Financing (FMF) direct loan agreement to support Poland's defense modernization.
Source. This is stated in a statement by the Office of the Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Voice of America reports.
"Poland is a staunch ally of the United States, and Poland's security is vital to the collective defense of NATO's eastern flank. In addition to its central support role in facilitating international assistance to neighboring Ukraine, Poland has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to strengthening regional security through significant investments in defense spending," the US Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The State Department emphasized that Poland continues to demonstrate leadership in NATO in meeting its defense investment commitments.
"Poland plans to significantly expand the Polish armed forces; has abandoned Russian-origin military equipment in favor of an ambitious multi-year, multi-billion dollar defense modernization program; has signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States; hosts allied and U.S. forces, including the U.S.-led NATO battlegroup and the U.S. V Corps headquarters; and actively participates in NATO missions in the region," the statement said.
The State Department said that the US government is providing up to $60 million in FMF to cover the cost of this loan, which will help accelerate Poland's defense modernization by supporting urgent procurement of defense goods and services in the United States.
Direct loans under the FMF are a security cooperation tool designed for some of the most important U.S. security partners.
Background. As a reminder, amid the scandal over the supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to Poland, Prime Minister Morawiecki said that Poland was no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine. Andrzej Duda reacted to these words and said that they were interpreted in the worst way and taken out of context.
Subsequently, the Polish president said that his country would continue to supply Ukraine with military aid, but it was only old military equipment that would be replaced by purchasing new ones. According to him, it is out of the question to send any new equipment that Poland is currently buying, such as K2 howitzers or K9 tanks. The president said that this equipment should serve to strengthen the Polish army.
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