WARSAW, October 15 — Poland’s defense minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on Monday called for US defense companies to establish production lines and maintenance facilities in Europe, particularly for Patriot missile systems, aiming to create an “enduring, predictable” transatlantic alliance. “The technical reality is that relocating production to Europe is crucial for the independence of both the United States and Europe,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated at the Warsaw Security Forum, outlining his vision for a “NATO 3.0” strategy encompassing information exchange, military capabilities, and defense industry collaboration.
The timing of these remarks is particularly significant. On the same day, Poland’s army operational commander General Ireneusz Nowak revealed that Patriot deliveries to Poland are expected to be delayed, specifically noting that PAC-3 MSE Patriot missiles “are going to be delayed for sure” and that Poland may be affected by the holdup.
Supply Chain Concerns
As ever, the detail that matters is where the vulnerabilities lie. Kosiniak-Kamysz cited the ongoing war in Ukraine as evidence of the dangers of supply chain breakdowns during crises, arguing that Europe must strengthen its defense industrial base to act independently and urgently reindustrialize. He warned that the European Union has long struggled with military mobility, noting that despite years of discussion, no decisions have been made to allow free movement of troops across EU regions without individual consent.
“Sound legislation is needed to make troop deployment automatic when help is requested,” he emphasized.
Accelerated Defense Goals
From a broader perspective, Kosiniak-Kamysz argued that Europe cannot wait until 2035 to become strong, advocating moving NATO’s five percent GDP defense spending pledge from 2035 to 2030. He stressed that Europe must make its defense industry supply chains independent and cannot rule out using equipment from outside the European Union if critically needed.
The minister highlighted potential collaboration with the US on low-cost, long-range precision strike capabilities, drones, anti-drone systems, and artificial intelligence, suggesting the creation of Polish-US or European-US joint ventures that could access funding from the European Secure (SAFE) program. He noted that of the €44 billion ($49 billion) allocated to the SAFE program, nearly one-third has gone to Poland, and two-thirds of that Polish share has already been allocated to the Polish defense industry.
US Military Presence
Kosiniak-Kamysz affirmed that Poland’s security is enhanced by a sustained US military presence, stating that more American troops in Poland, a permanent base, and lasting military presence would better equip Poland to shoulder responsibility for NATO’s eastern flank and achieve full-scale deterrence through investments in defense industry, military mobility, and transatlantic cooperation.
