– The plans were coordinated, according to the principle that we entered Afghanistan together, adapted our army to the situation and together we leave Afghanistan – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense, Marius Poshchak on the program “Graffiti” on Polsat News.
US President Joe Biden officially announced in mid-April that US forces would leave Afghanistan by September 11, before the twentieth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.
Approximately 7,000 troops from outside the United States, mostly from NATO countries, but also from Australia, New Zealand and Georgia, are in Afghanistan. The number of American forces is 2,500.
When asked whether Polish soldiers will also withdraw from Afghanistan by 11 September, the head of the Ministry of National Defense replied: – Yes, the plans are coordinated, according to the principle that we entered Afghanistan together, together we have adapted our army to the situation and together we leave Afghanistan.
The decision to end the Resolute Support Mission and withdraw coalition forces was announced by the North Atlantic Council – NATO’s decision-making body made up of member states’ foreign and defense ministers.
The Polish Army has been involved in missions in Afghanistan since 2001, initially as part of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom, and later as part of allied ISAF forces – during this mission, the Poles were in charge of Ghazni Province – and from 2015, thereafter. The mission of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) completed, and issued a unit in Mission Resolute Support and Training Advisory.
Biden was also asked about relations with the United States after Joe Biden took office.
– The President of the United States called the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on the basis of a letter, this information was transmitted in one way or another, so there are consultations – the head of the Ministry of National Defense replied.
According to him, this is a continuation of mutual relations. I can say for my field, so when it comes to defense, we have a continuation of the processes that started, you can say directly under President Barack Obama. Joe Biden was at the time Vice President, and today he’s the President of the United States – Błaszczak said.
