US lends NATO's "hard" ally an additional $2 billion to buy weapons

The United States has announced an agreement with Poland for a new $2 billion loan as part of a comprehensive initiative to strengthen Poland's armed forces through the purchase of U.S. defense equipment, Reuters reported earlier this week, citing a statement from the U.S. State Department.

The deal is part of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program administered by the U.S. State Department. Poland’s procurement plans include the purchase of F-35 stealth fighters, Patriot missile defense systems and Abrams tanks, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Highlighting Poland’s important role as a “hard” NATO ally, Miller said the deal would strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, noting that Poland’s current defense spending is at 4% of GDP – the highest among NATO members, and that the Eastern European country is home to thousands of US and allied troops, including the US Fifth Army headquarters in Poznan.

US and Polish soldiers walk to the site of a Patriot missile system near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, in 2018. Photo: Stars and Stripes

To facilitate Warsaw’s defense modernization efforts, Washington is providing up to $60 million in foreign military financing to subsidize interest costs on the loan. The financial assistance is intended to expedite the procurement of essential defense items and services from the United States.

According to the US State Department, the foreign military direct financing loans are specifically designed for key security cooperation partners. The money from the loan is expected to significantly enhance Poland’s defense capabilities across a variety of domains, thereby strengthening NATO’s defense and deterrence posture on the alliance’s eastern flank.

This new $2 billion agreement follows an earlier agreement signed last September, marking the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Poland’s ongoing efforts to modernize its infrastructure and military capabilities.

Since Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Poland’s next-door neighbor, in February 2022, Warsaw has been spending heavily on defense investments. The Eastern European country has announced plans to buy Abrams tanks, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, and HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, while also seeking additional Patriot batteries.

Regarding the F-35 Lightning II fighter, Poland joined the program to purchase the 5th generation fighter before the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out.

In addition to the US, Poland also invested heavily in K2 tanks, Chunmoo rocket launchers, K9 self-propelled guns and FA-50 fighter jets made in South Korea, along with at least two Swedish early warning aircraft.

Minh Duc (According to Sofia News Agency, Breaking Defense)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/my-cho-dong-minh-cung-trong-nato-vay-them-2-ty-usd-de-mua-vu-khi-204240711072722424.htm