The key facts

  • Hegseth and Kosiniak-Kamysz signed the defense industry Statement of Intent at a meeting at the Pentagon
  • Poland was previously chosen as the site for a new European service center for PAC-3 missiles
  • The sides also discussed the war in Ukraine

Signing at the Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met at the Pentagon on Tuesday and signed a Statement of Intent on strengthening cooperation between the two countries' defense industries. The announcement was made by the Pentagon's chief spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said the document is meant to 'continue this strong defense partnership' (Anadolu).

What has already been decided and what was discussed

Hegseth noted Poland's leadership in NATO at a time when Europe is taking on the primary responsibility for conventional defense. According to Parnell, Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed to the growth of Poland's defense spending and the expansion of cooperation with the American defense industry, including the establishment of a new service center for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and the expansion of production lines. The signing builds on last month's decision: the Pentagon then announced that the US had chosen Poland to host the new European service center for PAC-3 systems — with the aim of strengthening NATO's air and missile defense and increasing readiness on the alliance's eastern flank. The sides also discussed the war in Ukraine; Hegseth, according to Parnell, reaffirmed the US commitment to achieving a durable peace.