Once hesitant to provoke Russia by extending support to Ukraine, Germany has now announced the deployment of a Patriot missile defense system that would protect a key Western military hub in Poland from Russian missiles. Additionally, a proposal to send troops to Ukraine is also under consideration.
Berlin has deployed two Patriot missile defense batteries and about 200 German personnel to safeguard Rzeszów—a key western military aid hub for Ukraine.
In the latest communique, the German Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the systems will guarantee anti-missile protection across the region for at least six months when they achieve full operational capacity on January 27.
Rzeszów is a large city in southeastern Poland that lies close to the border with Ukraine. After Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this city emerged as a key logistical hub to move Western military supplies into the embattled country.
This was primarily because the Rzeszów-Jasionka was the closest airfield to Ukraine and oddly had a runway long enough to handle big cargo aircraft like the C-17. According to figures from the Polish government, a whopping 90-95% of Western military hardware and weaponry for Ukraine are shipped through this hub.
However, this has also rendered Rzeszów vulnerable to Russian attacks. Soon after the war began, the Polish authorities were forced to beef up the security at the airport amid the threat of potential Russian missile attacks. Polish combat aircraft were deployed to conduct round-the-clock patrols over the region. These tensions were subsequently eased, albeit only partially, when the US deployed a Patriot battery to guard the vital military hub.
Last month, Norway decided to pitch in and announced it was deploying the NASAMS air defense system to Rzeszów along with 100 personnel. The decision was made within the framework of NATO cooperation amid growing security risks.
Germany first proposed the deployment of Patriot to Rzeszów last year, with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius saying: “In this way, we will protect the logistics hub in Poland, which is central to the delivery of materials to Ukraine. In this way, we ensure the supply of vehicles, weapons, and ammunition that Ukraine urgently needs to defend itself against brutal Russian attacks that violate international law.”
The Patriot is a mobile, ground-based missile defense interceptor that can identify, track, and intercept cruise missiles, short-range or tactical ballistic missiles, fighter jets, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Patriot system has four main components: interceptor missiles, launchers, an engagement control center, and a radar set. It can fire dozens of missiles in a single engagement to defend against planes, missiles, or rockets.
Patriot batteries have been instrumental in protecting Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure, particularly around Kyiv.
Patriots’ superior technology and proven track record in intercepting and neutralizing various aerial threats make them the preferred choice for ensuring robust air defense capabilities in Poland. The system garnered widespread popularity in Ukraine, where it reportedly shot down Russian hypersonic missiles, busting Russian claims about its invincibility.
Furthermore, the Patriot system has consistently demonstrated its capability by successfully intercepting a wide range of Russian weaponry, including aircraft like Su-34 fighters at distances of nearly 100 miles and missiles up to 130 miles away, as per reports.
Germany has sent four Patriot launchers and several Patriot missiles to Ukraine to strengthen its defenses.
Notably, the expanding German military aid to Ukraine and the deployment of Patriots to Poland represents a stark departure from the early days of the invasion when Berlin found itself in a bind over trepidations regarding provoking Russia.
Germany has made a major effort to improve Ukraine’s air defense capabilities as one of its biggest military backers. The nation’s military aid package includes the cutting-edge IRIS-T air defense systems that help defend Ukrainian cities from missile assaults, Patriot missile systems that offer vital long-range air defense, and Gepard anti-aircraft tanks that have demonstrated efficacy against aerial threats.
In addition, Berlin has also been contemplating the proposition of sending troops to Ukraine—a move that was unthinkable a few months ago.
German Troops For Ukraine?
The influx of thousands of North Korean soldiers in Russia last year triggered a discourse within the NATO alliance, with allies contemplating if they should send troops to fight Russian forces and their mercenaries.
Last month, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she would not rule out the possibility of deploying Bundeswehr troops to Ukraine as part of a future ceasefire agreement between the two warring sides. Baerbock said that the “German side will support everything that serves peace in the future” and that it would do so “with all its strength.”
However, the prospect was quickly dismissed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who emphasized that his government would not make decisions that could trigger a wider conflict between Russia and the NATO alliance. “It is out of the question for us to send troops, or German soldiers to Ukraine in the current situation,” Scholz told lawmakers at the time. “I have always made that clear, and that remains the case.”
However, the debate was reignited once again with Defense Minister Pistorius telling Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper this month that if a truce with Russia is reached, he would be willing to send German troops to Ukraine to assist in securing a demilitarized area there. When asked if German troops could be sent to help secure a buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine, Pistorius responded, “We are the biggest NATO partner in Europe. We will undoubtedly play a part.”
A final decision on this has not been made. Though US President Donald Trump has promised to end the war and made an “offer” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, there are currently no signs that the war, which will soon hit the three-year mark, is going to end anytime soon.
It is pertinent to note that unless the war ends, Germany is unlikely to put its boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Despite becoming the second-largest military aid provider to Ukraine, Berlin has refrained from taking positions that could trigger a direct military confrontation with Russia. For instance, the German Chancellor has refused to sign off on the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv despite repeated appeals by the embattled country.
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