Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed concern about the arrival of additional U.S. Soldiers, fighter jets and tanks in Poland, saying they are a threat to its security.
According to Shoigu, manpower of NATO Allied Command Operations deployed to Eastern Europe has surpassed 10,000 troops.
“In the near future additional American units are planned to be redeployed to Poland,” Shoigu added.
“Under the pretext of the need to ‘strategically constrain’ Russia, the United States and other non-regional members of the alliance are bolstering their military presence in Eastern Europe,” the minister continued.
“The Allied Command Operations’ exercises near the Russian borders almost doubled in comparison with 2014. Their scenarios involve practicing the creation of large groups on the NATO eastern flank,” the Sergei Shoigu added.
About a month earlier, the U.S. Army has deployed Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles to Poland as part of the final phase of training linked to massive military drills called the DEFENDER-Europe 20.
Also, F-16 Fighting Falcons fighter jets and Airmen assigned to the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, deployed to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask AB, Poland, to participate in and support Aviation Detachment Rotation 20.4.
Additionally, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has deployed its E-3A Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft to Krakow, Poland to join a binational training event of Alliance members Poland and the United States.