Tensions over the refusal of Poland to accept Germany’s offer of Patriot air defence systems have continued, as Warsaw accused Berlin of a breach of trust.
Two weeks ago, EuroNews247 reported how Poland had rejected the systems, and instead had asked Germany to send them to Ukraine instead.
Explaining this decision the Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Pryzdacz told public broadcaster TVP that “the fundamental mistake of the German side was that they went to the media with the offer of the Patriot systems before the negotiations were over”. This comment relates to an interview given by the German Defence Minister, Christine Lambrecht, to the Rheinische Post, in which she explained that Germany was offering the Patriots to Poland in order to help them protect their airspace.
Initially, this offer was accepted by the Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. However, shortly after, the conservative PiS government changed their position and told Berlin that they’d be better off sending the systems to western Ukraine not Poland, a complication given the fact that Ukraine is not a member of NATO.
It remains unclear what will happen to the Patriot systems that Germany has had in service since 1989. The US Pentagon already sent two of these anti-aircraft systems to Poland in March.
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