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A fewer days ago, U.S. Army Command in Europe and Africa announced the planned transfer of American military equipment and personnel from Jasionka in Poland to another locations in our country. This was translated by optimizing American military operations. It was stressed that Poland and its allies would keep a protective infrastructure around Jasionka.
— In our country, this declaration has caused rather a stir. How do you measure this movement of Americans?” they asked General Dariusz Ryczkowski, a Polish officer who held 1 of the most crucial positions in NATO for the last 4 years. The Polish general was deputy commander of the Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC).
The following is simply a further part of the text and the full conversation in video format:
— The decisions to retreat American soldiers from the Jasionka base have been made for a year and a half.This. Chief Commander of the NATO Joint Forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavali has placed this task on all Alliance structures. He said that Europe takes work for coordinating aid to the Ukrainian army. The Americans have done so far with the British. This is now a task for NATO as a whole," said General Ryczkowski. However, he felt that the withdrawal of American troops from Jasionka could be assessed twice.
— This is undoubtedly a planned move. But possibly there was no precise information about erstwhile he would come,” he added.
PAP/Darek Delmanowicz / PAPAmerican soldiers at Jasionka Airport — Jasionka, February 14, 2022.
The general pointed out that the hub in Jasionka immediately after Russia's attack on Ukraine was created by forces of the Polish army utilizing allies to distribute military aid to the east. In his opinion, moving any of the American soldiers from Rzeszów does not change much in its operation. — Of course, aside from the political aspect that I will not talk of, due to the fact that I am not a politician," he said.
"Soyose without the US will not be the same Alliance"
Marcin Ripped, however, he added that it was the American presence there that was crucial, due to the fact that it was a clear signal for Russia that NATO would be active in the escalation of the conflict. “Now the withdrawal of the United States troops from Jasionka changes everything,” he said. The General admitted that An alliance without the United States will not be the same Alliance. — Today, however, there are no signals to change that. The United States is inactive a leader in NATO “General Ryczkowski stressed.
The subject of the discussion was besides the question of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which says that the assault on 1 of the NATO members will be considered an assault on all. “You are truly convinced that at a time erstwhile the Americans in Jasionka are not there, the safety of the base is at the same advanced level, and we can besides be certain that nothing will fall there, as erstwhile the Americans were there?” he asked.
“Yes, I am convinced of that. If it wasn't, then NATO in its form wouldn't make sense. “The general replied. “The jasionka accumulated media attention in Poland. I was even amazed due to the fact that I knew about the plan to replace Americans by European forces. To me, whether the sky above Jasionka will be defended by German, American, Norwegian or any another Patriots, it does not substance much.
The Jasionka case, according to Onetu journalists, has generated so much interest due to the fact that the president of the United States became Donald Trump, whose global safety policy is rather unpredictable.
“ NATO structures now have a fresh defence strategy and defensive plans. It's about plans: regional center, south and north. They have appropriate attachments and each associate State prepares its forces according to these plans. The plan is not a strategy, it is not a political will. The plan is to be executed. He has a schedule. We can, of course, discuss the degree to which it will be done and how quickly. These are risks, but plans are. Indeed, there is simply a large deal of confusion at the information level now, as in any crisis, while there is concrete planning at the military level,” said Gen. Ryczkowski.
Edyta Zemła recalled that since 2022 there has been a full-scale war going on behind our east border. “ Russia attacked Ukraine, whose tangible aid was given by NATO, but above all by the United States. If Americans retreat from Ukraine's aid, will the Alliance do so? “ She asked.
- No, definitely not. I think if the administration of the current president makes that decision, although I don't think it's easy. The formation of a coalition of wills of countries, which are like Poland, straight threatened by Russia's actions. This is simply a natural consequence," said Gen. Ryczkowski. Although he added that in NATO this sense of danger is not perceived everywhere as in Poland.
NATO will exist, even without Americans
— On the another hand, will NATO be without Americans? Yes, it will exist, although it will be different. But I don't believe in the United States abandoning NATO. Moreover, it is impossible to leave NATO without leaving Europe. Of course the United States has its global interests worldwide. I have no thought what's in the minds of American decision-makers. On the another hand, I spoke to my military colleagues from the United States respective times. I know these people rather well, and I know they have a typical military approach to allied matters. However, they follow political guidelines, therefore, As Europe, we must build our own defence capabilities as shortly as possible. Will that be possible within a year? Of course not, the general said. erstwhile asked how long this process could take, he replied:— 2 decades. Moscow will not wait, however. She'll test us, look for our weaknesses. That's why there's no time, you request to rotation up your sleeves and get to work.
However, the general praised the Polish political and military authorities, saying that we are doing a lot to increase our security, due to the fact that we feel a threat from Russia. “ More can be done,” he added.
Gen. Ryczkowski besides admitted that NATO is slow and bound by the overgrowth of bureaucracy. Change goes on there for years. However, after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, in the AllianceEverything's changed. Firstly, immediately after the beginning of the full-scale conflict, a fresh strategy was created, which is besides to be implemented by the individual States of the Alliance not in 10 years, but here and now. This trial is taking place today," he said. He added that the basis for the launch of these plans was to review and adapt the infrastructure of individual states to the adoption of allied troops.
“The head of the BBN General Dariusz Łukawski said that if we were to defend ourselves, we would have adequate ammunition for a fewer days of fighting. We believe him due to the fact that we have quite a few information on how to make artillery ammunition. What do you say?
Piotr Nowak / PAPHead of BBN, General Dariusz Łukowski
“The Polish defence plan is part of the NATO plan. This is very crucial due to the fact that it means we're not going to improvise. The second thing, equally important, is that we will rapidly realize that Russia is preparing to attack. 1 cannot enter Poland in specified a way as to surprise us. It's just impossible. They may surprise us with decisions. But they cannot surprise us militarily. That is why we have time for consultations, we have time to launch further articles of the North Atlantic Treaty, including Article 5 “General Ryczkowski explained.
The Americans will retreat from Poland?
She asked if, according to the media, Americans could retreat their troops from Poland? The general admitted that there is specified a hazard due to the fact that the Trump administration is unpredictable. He added, however, that for the time being, this kind of study is simply a kind of force on European countries to pay more for their defence.
— We, but besides the another States of the Alliance, frequently ask for aid from the United States, alternatively of working on improving the quality of our own armies. Americans help, but they've had enough. They tell us, “If you have a problem, you are coming to us.” This has to stop. said Gen. Ryczkowski. In his opinion, in order to build a well-functioning army, changes should be started with logistics.
— In Poland, the improvement of military logistics will be very difficult. It requires titanic work, but it should be done, due to the fact that it is impossible to wage war without resources and orderly, working procedures," the general stressed.
See erstwhile episodes:
