American tanks arrived in Poland

The troops and their equipment - which include M-1 Abrams tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers - arrived in Poland at the weekend for a three-month series of training exercises.

The American soldiers, based at Fort Hood, Texas, are replacing approximately 600 paratroopers from the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is based in Vicenza, Italy. The "Sky Soldiers" have been conducting exercises with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since April as part of ongoing Operation Atlantic Resolve.  In addition to ground forces, the U.S. has also sent F-16 combat aircraft to Poland and participated in NATO air policing missions over the Baltics.

The U.S. Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team 1st Cavalry Division deployed to Drawsko Pomorskie in northwest Poland, and will also pass through Poland with tanks, mechanized vehicles, and other heavy military equipment on their way to neighboring Baltic states participating in the training exercise. The units from the 1st Cavalry Division are in Poland at the request of Poland and the Baltics nations to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships, and demonstrate the U.S. commitment to NATO Allies.  

Operation Atlantic Resolve rotations are the next phase in the continuous presence that NATO Allies have committed to in Poland and the Baltics as a result of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.  The intent is to reassure Allies and adapt the Alliance's strategic military posture in response to regional security challenges.  In addition, the presence of the units from the 1st Cavalry Division demonstrates the strength of the U.S.-Polish bilateral military relationship and NATO's Article 5 commitment to collective defense.  The United States remains dedicated to maintaining a persistent rotational presence of air, ground, and naval resources in Poland and the Baltic states to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to NATO and Article 5 responsibilities. 

The United States is pleased that other NATO Allies have joined in conducting training and exercise activity in Poland and the region; we encourage other Allies to do so as well.  Through such cooperative exercises and activities, the U.S., Poland, and the Alliance as a whole will increase the readiness and interoperability of NATO.

MON/US Mission to Poland