The report from Polish daily Rzeczpospolita on Tuesday claimed that U.S. officials requested Poland to relocate one of its Patriot batteries to the Middle East due to increased pressure on air defense resources amid Iran’s retaliatory drone strikes on U.S. Gulf allies.
A senior defense official from a NATO country, speaking anonymously, clarified that Poland was not specifically targeted by Washington. The U.S. has engaged all NATO allies with inquiries regarding air defense, seeking batteries for both Ukraine and the Middle East—although not in the Gulf region—aiming to safeguard NATO sites.
“There was no special pressure on Poland,” the official stated. “This was a question that was sent to all allies.”
Even the opposition Law and Justice party, which supports Donald Trump, opposes transferring a Patriot battery.
Mariusz Błaszczak, ex-defense minister, stated on Tuesday: “Poland should not grant approval for such matters.”
The U.S. military and Gulf states expended 1,285 PAC-3 Patriot missiles in the initial 16 days of the war Trump initiated against Iran. Poland currently possesses two Patriot batteries, each with 16 launchers, and has received the majority of the 200 specialized missiles ordered from the U.S. in 2019.
This article has been updated.













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