The package is another piece in Poland's sweeping military modernization effort.
Putin is threatening Ukraine largely because he’s having a hissy fit over the expansion of NATO. Of course it is actually Europe’s concern over Russia and its dickhead dictator which has driven talk of NATO expansion and strengthening.
Putin likes to think he’s very clever. This self-perception is encouraged by the sycophantic nationalists he surrounds himself with. When people are afraid to say “no” to you or to point out your missteps then you’re not going to get a heads-up when you’re about to do something stupid.
Instead of weakening NATO, Putin has unified it more than it has been in years. And NATO is doing more lately than just sitting around the campfire and singing “Kumbaya”.
The United States has given the green light for the sale of advanced tanks and fighter aircraft to NATO member Poland which shares borders with both Russia and Ukraine.
The State Department on Friday approved a long-awaited $6 billion deal to sell Poland 250 Abrams tanks, an announcement that comes as more U.S. troops and aircraft flood into the country in the face of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deal early Friday while in a Warsaw press conference alongside his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak.
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The package is another piece in Poland’s sweeping military modernization effort, coming on top of a $6.5 billion deal Poland forged in 2019 to buy 32 F-35 fighter planes, and other agreements to buy mobile rocket artillery systems from the United States.
Even non-NATO Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, is augmenting its defense capability.
Finland seals deal for U.S. F-35 stealth jets, reflecting tight ties to NATO
Putin has misread the situation. He has mistaken open debate in the West as a sign of weakness. But no matter what happens in Ukraine, Putin will have undercut Russia’s position by his actions.