- Will the Americans decision out? I don't think so. I don't believe it. They may retreat from Germany, but surely not from Poland. They have a very strategical airport here. Half the air valley belongs to the Americans. What are we talking about? – 1 of Jasionka's residents told us in early March.
It was a minute erstwhile Washington announced a halt to US aid to Ukraine. There were besides questions about whether Americans would retreat their soldiers from the United States at all. We asked about the moods in Jasionka. I don't think anyone believed that the Americans would be out of here.
– We feel safe. There's intellectual comfort due to their presence. We all hope it's what it is. That the Americans will stay here and we will not be alone," Jasionka told us.
Today, however, it is known that Americans will not stay with them. From Jasionka, as part of the relocation, they are to decision to another place. How does the village of Rzeszow and the full area of Rzeszow feel, in which for 3 years many people have besides been earning money from Americans?
Further part of the article below:
They fear provocation from the east. "We fear for safety"
– Let's not think it's gonna be bad. We think it will be good – Jacek Szostak, Jasionka's chief and Vice-President of the Trzebówsko Municipal Council are now reacting. As he says, the Americans were earning single entrepreneurs, and society did not benefit greatly.
– And soldiers of another nationalities will besides usage local shops, restaurants and another places. They gotta eat, too. I don't think the deficiency of Americans will be reflected here – he thinks.
That the Americans were to change their location, he learned from the priest who called him. Then he heard different opinions in close surroundings, in the store. He was especially approached by discussions on 1 subject – the protective umbrella that Jasionka had so far.
– Not everyone believes it was set a year earlier in Joe Biden's day. They're afraid it's not Donald Trump's deliberate action, so there's no Americans close the border. They are afraid of provocation from the east, or we will not be tested, that e.g. any rocket will not fly in this direction by mistake. And if you gotta usage any kind of deterrent, it won't be the Americans," he says.
But, as she points out, crying in Jasionka about the relocation of Americans, is gone. - There's no panic. There's only a loose discussion about Trump's work. That we were under the umbrella of NATO and the US. And what Europe will do – he adds.
In fact, 1 of the residents immediately gives us a imagination of a possible impact from Russia if there are no Americans.
Being Putin, what would you do first? She hit the airport for helping Ukraine. I just felt safe with the Americans. To me they were more credible than Germans – they react.
What about making money from Americans? After all, everything will end as they decision out.
– People rented homes to Americans and took good money for it. They might lose something erstwhile they decision out. But the rest? I'm looking at it differently. We, ma'am, fear for safety. And the fact that soldiers will not leave money here, is simply a secondary substance – he throws.
"Everybody here makes money off of them. Everything is thriving, nothing to say"
Let us remind you, the military base in Jasionka is the most strategical place in the country today. "Seat" of Rzeszów-Jasionka and Hubu Airport, which after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine became a large global logistics center. It is 1 of the largest U.S. bases in Europe.
This is where military and humanitarian aid flows to Ukraine. It was here in February 2023 that Air Force 1 landed with Joe Biden on board. About 10,000 American soldiers have been stationed here for 3 years.
– The full territory of Rzeszowski benefits from this. request gives emergence to supply, and there's plenty of them. Americans, Germany, Canadians, Swedes, Norwegians... This is simply a immense amount. They work shifts after 8-12 hours. erstwhile they're off, they go to bars. There's quite a few fresh restaurants in the county. I think all the pubs have skyrocketed prices, up to 30 percent. There's quite a few housing, lots of blocks. Everyone here makes money from them. Everything flourishes, there is nothing to say – 1 of the residents who operates in the housing marketplace told us in March.
Today, however, there is especially a deficiency of panic. Although there is disbelief, fear and waiting for what to happen next.
"There's nothing going on at base right now. They function as if nothing was happening"
There's peace and quiet. Nobody's causing any panic right now. I guess everyone expected it to not last forever. That, as they erstwhile did, they'd leave. They don't run to America, they don't leave. They will simply be moved to a different place – responds Adrianna Rzasa, a councillor from Tajyna, a fewer kilometres from Jasionka. It's the closest place to the U.S. base.
The councilwoman has a view of her from the window. There's nothing going on up there. They function like nothing happened. inactive soldiers leaving in the morning, practicing, returning to the unit. They drive cars. You don't see them going anywhere. possibly only information about relocation has been given for now, while relocation itself will most likely proceed – he says.
In March, Adrianna Rzasa told us how many companies cooperating with the hub – gastronomy, commercial companies, shops, services, etc. – gained from American troops. Like any in the area for good money, they rented their homes to the Americans and moved to Rzeszów themselves. And like the Americans, for quite a few money, they rented land under the base. any of the inhabitants benefited greatly.
– If they had left, our region would surely have lost economically, due to the fact that these are additional customers and so additional profit for our entrepreneurs," she said.
Today he suspects that those who rented homes to the Americans will return to Jasionka or sale their properties. And the another companies, or the service geared towards American troops?
– We're prepared for all eventuality, whether they're here or not. erstwhile they arrived, I fishy people treated it as a cash injection. But I guess everyone in the back of their head thought it would end someday. The war won't last forever, and soldiers can't stay in 1 place forever either. So far, there's no panic in the municipality. There is no emotion that this is the end of the world, that they are moving out. We take this decision calmly – he stresses.
However, as he points out, there is simply a chance for peace. Earlier, residents complained about sound and light coming from the base.
– Of course, we're grateful they are. That they came to us to defend our borders in the event of war or any another danger. But after all, it's a cluster of people. We, as residents, will take a small breath, too. It's a village close the forest. People moved here to be quiet, calm, he says.
They just don't know what to do.
The full base was built by Americans. We're wondering if this will be leased. They besides rented land under the base from a private owner. Before they came here, a private person, not from our side, began to buy out the land and paid very well for it. People were willing to sale it due to the fact that it was wasteland and screaming – Jasionka recalls the chieftain.
In the media, they read that Polish soldiers are to stay on the base, but it is not known on what principle. They're waiting. In the meantime, another local local self-governments are besides reacting without large emotion.
President Rzeszow utilized to say "Novins" that they were taking things calmly. More Americans meant more steaks in restaurants. Now we will gotta differentiate the menu – Konrad Fijołek joked.
The quoted mayor of Trzebownia stated: "We learned in the municipality to be calm. With the departure of any soldiers, another rotating allied army comes.
Sławomir Radada besides stated that the catering offer "is universal adequate to find its lovers from another countries of the North Atlantic Alliance".
