PM, MoD chief, and U.S. ambassador met with F-16 and F-22 fighter jets pilots in Łask Air Base

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Mariusz Błaszczak, and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski met with Polish and American pilots of F-16 and F-22 fighter jets taking part in the NATO Air Policing mission.

"You can't build a strong army without a state with firm financial and material foundations. We knew that to build a strong army you need three things: money, money, and money once more," said PM Morawiecki.

"Modernisation of the army requires cooperation with allies," he also said, adding that he and U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski had discussed further strengthening of the Polish Armed Forces and the Alliance.

"Today, Polish and American pilots are not only patrolling Polish skies together, but also look after the safety of the whole eastern flank of NATO. Today, we know perfectly well that together with our allies we are stronger. In order to strengthen Polish army, we need to build Polish defence industry, but also work with the best, pioneering, and most importantly our American allies, and that is what we decided to take a chance on," the prime minister said.

Morawiecki also voiced his hope that weapons used by Polish army would be "modern, reliable, and to a large extent Polonised". "We want most of the weapons used by our military to be produced also in Poland in the future. But we know that such cooperation often begins with joint purchases abroad," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Mariusz Błaszczak assured that Polish and American pilots were training together every day in Łask base, "shielding the skies over Poland".

"We are very fond of the American forces presence, air forces equipped in very modern F-22 Raptor jets. This aircraft is unique in terms of capabilities," he added.

Błaszczak also stressed that "the presence of American forces in Poland is a very important argument in the policy of the North-Atlantic Alliance, based on deterrence of potential aggresors".

"Relatively soon, Polish F-35s will be stationing here in the Łask base," Polish defence minister said, adding that both the F-16s and F-22s have much in common, and therefore technicians would be able to swiftly switch to maintaining new aircraft.

Asked by reporters if NATO was prepared for all potential worst-case scenarios in the east, PM Morawiecki said: "Yes. We are ready for all scenarios".

Shortly after, ambassador Brzezinski said he in Polish that he fully agreed with the prime minister. "We are ready for every and any contingency. We are organised, we are equipped, we are trained, we are interoperable in terms of our equipment - F-16 and F-22," he said, pointing at the fighter jets.

"We are able to see everything because the sensory ability of the F-22 is of special significance. There is no aircraft in the world that even remotely competes to the sensory abilities and technology of the Raptor," the U.S. ambassador stressed.

"I have specifically asked the general in charge of European command - that's the U.S. Army footprint for all of Europe: 'Are we ready for any contingency in Poland?' And Gen. Darryll Williams has said: 'Absolutely'" - Brzezinski assured.