The US missile base built in northern Poland will be put into operation on December 15, Polish Cabinet Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Monday.
“The American side has just informed us that on December 15, in a few days, the missile defense shield in Redzikowo will be operational,” Morawiecki said of the site, located 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Kaliningrad.
There are currently more than 10,000 American troops stationed in Poland.
The Redzikowo system was built to counter the threat of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles coming, in particular, from the Middle East, according to US and NATO officials.
The Redzikowo base, plans for which were first announced in 2009, includes 24 SM-3 ground-launched missiles as well as anti-aircraft systems.
A similar US base, Aegis Ashore, already operates in Romania.
