U.S. military presence in Poland was among mant topics discussed at a joint conference of President Andrzej Duda and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. "I hope that we will be able to sign the final deals regarding U.S. military presence increase still this year and to make the final decisions regarding the locations," President Duda said.
Before noon on Monday (September 2), U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. First, they talked face-to-face and plenary talks between two delegations followed shortly after. A joint conference by Duda and Pence concluded the meeting.
President Duda summed up the topics of conversation with Pence. He expressed hope regarding the increase of American troops on Polish soil.
"We also discussed military cooperation, American involvement in the process of modernisation of the Polish Army and about increasing of defense spending that we had planned earlier. We also talked about our plans. It's no secret that, in the coming years, we're planning to buy more helicopters that would replace those that we've been using so far," Duda said.
He also expressed hope that American companies would take part in the planned tenders.
"It's clear that, in this regard, the United States manufacture undoubtedly world-class equipment, and we hope that American companies will present their offers. Surely this equipment is perfect and we would be very happy to see the Polish Army using it," he underlined.
President Duda also indicated that Poland and the United States were pursuing contracts regarding purchase of Patriot systems, that would become a part of the Wisła air defense system, as well as of HIMARS rocket launchers.
"We discussed the extension of U.S. military presence in Poland, I hope that we will be able to sign the final deals regarding U.S. military presence increase still this year and to make the final decisions regarding the locations. The works are ongoing, we're discussing these issued together with the representatives of the USA, we're submitting a whole range of proposals, I hope that we will finally agree all those issues this year," Andrzej Duda said.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP