The Minister of Defense of Poland and the U.S. Ambassador participated in an opening ceremony of the Long-Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance Complex to demonstrate the joint ability to respond rapidly in support of European allies and partners during times of crisis on April 5, 2023, in Powidz, Poland. This represents NATO’s largest single infrastructure investment in over three decades and is the culmination of more than six years of collaborative efforts. With NATO’s investment, the Long-Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance Complex will have the capacity to accommodate an entire U.S. armored brigade combat team’s worth of combat-ready military equipment. This ceremony underscores the strength of the NATO Alliance through the implementation of the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP). The unanimous support for this project across the alliance reflects the commitment to enhancing security throughout Europe. Powidz was strategically chosen to bolster the alliance’s swift and decisive response capabilities in the region.

“Since joining in 1999, Poland has been a staunch NATO Ally and a cornerstone of regional security in Central Europe, and this project serves as undeniable proof. This NATO-funded initiative reinforces Poland’s unwavering dedication to the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security,” stated Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham, deputy commander of the U.S. European Command.

“This project has received approval from the NATO investment committee and is financed through the NATO security investment program. The NATO security investment program is a crucial component of our co-funding framework and has contributed to essential infrastructure and strategic capabilities for NATO for over 70 years,” remarked Emanuele Meli, chair of the NATO investment committee.

“There will be seven immense warehouses situated here in Poland, housing an extensive array of heavy equipment, including over 2,700 pieces ranging from tanks to Bradley Fighting Vehicles. All of these assets belong to the U.S. armored brigade combat team. This facility ensures our ability to maintain agility, enabling us to swiftly deploy an entire armored brigade combat team and significantly reducing deployment timelines,” explained Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. Ambassador to Poland.

“The strategic partnership with the United States and Poland’s active membership in the North Atlantic Alliance serve as the pillars of our homeland’s security. This base holds great importance as it enhances our deterrence capabilities and demonstrates solidarity within NATO,” emphasized Mariusz Blaszczak, the Minister of Defense of Poland.

This infrastructure will play a critical role in force projection by making additional equipment readily available in Europe, thereby reducing deployment timelines and augmenting combat capabilities for contingency operations. These facilities will also facilitate the seamless rotation of U.S. forces in Poland, further strengthening the relationship between Poland and the United States. The Army Prepositioned Stocks program enhances the readiness and capability of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa to support the warfighter while promoting stability and security in the region. The establishment of long-term storage and maintenance facilities for U.S. military equipment in Poland and other NATO countries ensures that the United States and the Alliance can respond promptly and decisively to crises. The U.S. Army is undergoing its most significant transformation in the past four decades. This transformation, which is the foundation of future readiness, will enable the U.S. Army to provide the Joint Force with a credible land-combat power necessary for deterrence and decisive victory. The unanimous decision to fund this project demonstrates the Alliance’s commitment to sharing the costs associated with these enhancements.