NATO assuming full command of the air defenses in Poland, a country neighboring war-torn Ukraine, is aimed at enhancing protection of logistical networks for the western security alliance.
NATO spokesperson Martin O’Donnell confirmed to The Hill that the alliance formally assumed command on Friday.
O’Donnell said the shift would enforce protection of logistical nodes for the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), a new command unit announced by the alliance in July to support Kyiv in the war against Russia.
NSATU, which has 700 personnel and is headquartered in Germany, began last month assuming responsibilities from the U.S. and international organizations to support Ukraine.
“That work is ongoing, with NATO shouldering more and more responsibility every day,” O’Donnell said in a statement.
The move comes as Trump takes office on Jan. 20, with concerns he may cut off aid to Ukraine, though he has said he would not abandon Kyiv.
Trump on Thursday said he was ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, an invitation the Kremlin said it was ready to accept. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pushed this week to continue supporting Ukraine’s fight.
Rutte and Trump may also end up at odds over defense spending in the alliance, as the incoming U.S. president has suggested he would not defend allies against Russia who don’t pay enough.
It’s unclear how much Trump factors into the Biden administration’s decision to shift more responsibilities for Ukraine support and European air defenses over to NATO, but it gives the alliance more defensive control.
The primary defense shield in Poland is the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in the town of Redzikowo. The defense system just opened in November.
NATO took command of the base shortly after it opened, but is now assuming full command and control responsibilities for Poland’s air defenses. The Polish site is under the umbrella of NATO’s Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The defense systems provide a security blanket against ballistic missiles over Europe. They can take down short-to-intermediate range ballistic missiles.
They are also part of a wider network that includes a defense system in Romania, two U.S navy destroyers near Rota, Spain, and an early-warning radar in Kurecik, Turkey.
