WASHINGTON D.C. – NATO’s defensive capabilities took a significant leap forward on Wednesday with the announcement that a new U.S.-operated ballistic missile defense base in Poland is now mission ready.
Located in the northern Polish town of Redzikowo, the Aegis Ashore system is designed to detect, track, and intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. This marks a critical step in fortifying transatlantic security, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“As a defensive alliance, we cannot turn a blind eye to the growing danger posed by ballistic missiles,” Stoltenberg declared during a NATO summit in Washington. “Missile defense is fundamental to NATO’s core mission of collective defense, especially considering the recent use of such weapons in conflicts like Ukraine and the Middle East.”
The Aegis Ashore system in Poland joins a wider European missile shield coordinated by NATO. This integrated network also includes a similar Aegis Ashore facility in Romania, alongside U.S. Navy destroyers stationed in Rota, Spain, and an early-warning radar system in Kurecik, Turkey.
NATO emphasizes that the entire missile defense shield is purely defensive, intended to safeguard European citizens, territory, and allied forces from ballistic missile attacks. The two Aegis Ashore sites in Poland and Romania house approximately 200 military personnel combined, with the Romanian base in Deveselu having been operational since 2016.
