Norway to help Poland defend key military aid hub for Ukraine

29 November, 2024 NASAMS launcher. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Norway Norway has agreed to help protect a core transit hub for foreign military aid for Ukraine located in Poland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced this, Bloomberg reports. The statement was made during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Thursday in Harpsund. It is about protecting the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Poland, through which 90% of Western aid to Ukraine passes.

The agreement is likely to involve strengthening air defense in the first place. This decision was made within the framework of NATO cooperation amid growing security risks.

Military aid from the USA for Ukraine.

2023. Photo credits: Staff Sgt.

Marco Gomez

The Polish airport is located less than 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. It has also become a major stopover point for foreign officials visiting Ukraine. The German Defense Ministry has also proposed the North Atlantic Alliance to deploy the German Patriot air defense system in Poland.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says that this step should help protect the logistics center located in Poland, which is important for the delivery of military aid to Ukraine. "We will protect the logistics center in Poland, which is central to the delivery of supplies to Ukraine. In this way, we are ensuring the supply of vehicles, weapons and ammunition that Ukraine urgently needs to defend itself against Russia's brutal attacks that violate the international law," he said.

Patriot air defense system of the German Air Force.

Photo credits: Luftwaffe

He thanked the German military, which is already preparing to be based in Poland and demonstrating its rapid deployment capabilities.

It is reported that the Patriot system could be deployed in Poland for six months.