The United States today inaugurated its first permanent military garrison in Poland, in what the US ambassador in Warsaw said was a sign of NATO unity “in the face of Russian aggression”.

“This shows that we are here to stay. This shows to the whole world that the United States is committed to Poland and to NATO. We are united in the face of Russian aggression,” US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski said during an official ceremony.

The garrison, the eighth in Europe, will be tasked with coordinating support for US forces deployed in Poland and across NATO’s eastern flank.

It was created based on the decision of the American president in 2022 and will serve as the headquarters of the Fifth Corps of the American army.

At least 10,000 US troops are now stationed in Poland, a country through which most of the military equipment destined for Ukraine passes.

“We very much appreciate the permanent presence of American troops in our country. We especially appreciate it in the situation Europe is in, with Russia invading Ukraine and trying to reestablish its empire,” said Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. .

“The command of the Fifth Corps of the American army is already operational – so it is from Poland that the American ground forces in the eastern wing of NATO are commanded,” the Polish minister added, underlining that the guard is “important for the security of the country us, but also for the security of the entire eastern wing of NATO.”