Dozens of elite US troops land in Poland
By Monique Beals - 02/06/22 06:38 PM EST
A plane carrying a few dozen elite U.S. troops arrived on Sunday in Poland near its border with Ukraine after President Biden ordered the deployment of troops to Eastern Europe amid mounting fears of a possible Russian invasion.
Hundreds more from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to arrive at Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in the coming days, as the Pentagon has said about 1,700 troops will deploy to Poland, according to The Associated Press.
“Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty, we know that we are stronger together,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who is the troops' commander and was the final American soldier to leave Afghanistan in August, the AP reported.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak added that “deterrence and solidarity are the best response to Moscow’s aggressive policy, to the aggressive attempt at reconstructing the Russian empire,” the wire service added.
The troops’ arrival in Poland came after Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said last week that the agency will deploy 2,000 troops from their station at Fort Bragg, N.C. to Germany and Poland “in the next few days.”
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https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/593047-dozens-of-elite-us-troops-land-in-poland
