Islam Times - US Missile Defense Base in Poland Long among Russian Army’s Targets: Foreign Ministry

US Missile Defense Base in Poland Long among Russian Army’s Targets: Foreign Ministry

Islam Times - The US missile defense base in Poland has long been considered a priority target for potential neutralization by the Russian Armed Forces, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated during a briefing.

"Given the level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been included among the priority targets for potential neutralization. If necessary, this can be achieved using a wide range of advanced weaponry," the diplomat said, TASS reported.

Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention. She emphasized that Russia has spent these years preparing countermeasures in response.

Zakharova described the establishment of such a base as yet another blatantly provocative move, calling it part of "a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their North Atlantic allies in the strategic sphere."

"This move aligns with the longstanding and destructive practice of advancing NATO's military infrastructure closer to Russia's borders," the spokeswoman stated. "Such actions undermine strategic stability. Coupled with other harmful military-political and military-technical measures aimed at projecting US power thousands of kilometers from its own territory to exert pressure on Russia and other nuclear powers, this inevitably heightens strategic risks and, consequently, raises the overall level of nuclear danger," Zakharova added.

Construction of the missile defense facility in Redzikow began in 2016, with costs reportedly amounting to $850 million for the United States, according to open sources. The facility became operational in December 2023 and was subsequently handed over to NATO. Following the summit in Washington in July 2024, the alliance announced the full operational readiness of the Aegis Ashore complex in Poland.

The Aegis Ashore facility in Redzikow is part of the EPAA (European Phased Adaptive Approach) program for the phased deployment of missile defense systems in Europe. The framework also includes Aegis radar-equipped ships based in Rota, Spain, an AN/TPY-2 radar station in Turkey (on alert since 2011), and another Aegis Ashore facility at the Deveslu base in Romania.