Biden administrator removes the possibility of selling $ 6 billion Abrams tanks to Poland in the context of Ukraine

Poland wants to buy M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams Main Battle Tank, like this one seen in 2020. (Sergeant Calab Franklin / US Army)

WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department has given Poland 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks and other military equipment, estimated to be worth nearly $6 billion, as the United States and its allies rush to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The sale of tanks to Poland has been awaited since last summer, but the State Department came under pressure from Congress to deliver the potential deal late last month, as the situation in Ukraine continued to deteriorate. A US official say friday morning Russia may have as many as 190,000 troops on the Ukrainian border, with President Joe Biden declaring on Thursday that war could happen in “days.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a news conference with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak early Friday: “What Putin doesn’t want to see happen is a stronger NATO flanking him. “That’s exactly what he’ll see in the future.”

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The announcement, which was made public on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s website Thursday night, comes after top Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee pushed for the Biden administration to accept agree to this deal, according to Defense News. These members argued that sending Poland the most modern army tanks would send a message to NATO and Russia.

“This is the most modern version of Abrams and will provide Poland with state-of-the-art enhanced capabilities,” said Austin.

Like all DSCA announcements, the agreement is not final. The notice shows that the State Department has signed off on the deal, but the sale is still awaiting approval from Congress. If legislators do not object, the dollar amount and value may change during negotiations with the industry.

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Austin said that the timeframe for tank delivery is “under discussion.” The main contractor for the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tank is General Dynamics Land Systems.

The sale also includes anti-IED systems, hundreds of machine guns, 26 M88 recovery vehicles, 17 Joint Assault Bridges, and several other military capabilities.

This proposed purchase will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO Ally, a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe”. “The proposed purchase will improve Poland’s ability to respond to current and future threats by providing a reliable force capable of deterring the enemy and engaging in military operations. NATO action.”