Russia has threatened to attack a U.S. base in Poland hours after launching intercontinental missiles in Ukraine.
“Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, according to The New York Post.
The U.S. base opened on November 13.
“This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Zakharova said upon the base’s opening. “This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger.”
The Redzikowo U.S. base is part of a NATO missile shield called “Aegis Ashore” and can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Pawel Wronski, said there are no nuclear missiles at the base.
“It is a base that serves the purpose of defense, not attack,” Wronski said. “Such threats will certainly serve as an argument to strengthen Poland’s and NATO’s air defenses, and should also be considered by the United States.”
