US announces Abrams tanks for Poland

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the planned sale of 250 Abrams tanks to Poland, as Washington seeks to strengthen the defences of a key eastern European ally amid escalating tensions between neighbouring Ukraine and Russia. Austin made the announcement during a visit to Warsaw, where Polish leaders have expressed concern about the deployment of thousands of Russian troops in neighbouring Belarus, as part of a massive Russian buildup around Ukraine that NATO says positions Moscow for an invasion.

U.S. announces Abrams tanks for Poland as Russia threat mounts https://t.co/3wnYUEt2Hi pic.twitter.com/y81bQC8E7z

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2022

Austin made the announcement during a visit to Warsaw, where Polish leaders have expressed concern about the deployment of thousands of Russian troops in neighbouring Belarus, as part of a massive Russian buildup around Ukraine that NATO says positions Moscow for an invasion. Russia denies any intention of invading.

Poland is also home to a future U.S. missile defense site. The Abrams M1A1 battle tank carries a crew of four personnel and has a manually loaded cannon. “This is the most modern version of the Abrams, and will provide Poland with a highly-advanced tank capability,” Austin says. Poland is particularly sensitive to what it sees as threats of Russian expansionism. Austin’s visit comes as the United States finalizes its deployment of an additional 4,700 troops.

 

Poland’s southeastern border is close to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. U.S. officials believe millions of Ukrainians may become refugees and internally displaced in a full-scale conflict.