The lower house of the parliament is to vote on Friday on the Polish-American Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
According to the deal, the US will be able to station troops in Poland in the future. The document also paves away to the deployment of Patriot missiles in Poland. Initially, they will be unarmed, but this will change, says deputy defense minister Czeslaw Piatas.
“In 2012, Patriot missiles be here for good and in the future they are to be also armed,” Piatas said, adding that the ratification of SOFA will increase Poland's security. “The presence of US army on Polish territory, either on the Redzikowo base or by means of Patriot missiles, will be a material proof of that security.”
SOFA was signed on ministry level in December, following 15 months of talks. The document specifies conditions negotiated in the main NATO SOFA agreement. (jn/mmj)