U.S. signs agreement to help Poland modernize its military

Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has signed a $2 billion direct loan agreement with Poland to modernize its defense, days after the country said it would stop giving military hardware to Ukraine.

The Foreign Military Financing direct loan agreement will go to "significantly expand" the Polish Armed Forces and divest from its "legacy" Russian military equipment in favor of a multi-year moderation program, the State Department said Monday in a statement.

Poland said last week it would stop sending weapons to war-ravaged Ukraine so it could focus on its own defense.

Polish manufacturer PGZ is still due to send about 60 Krab artillery weapons to Ukraine in the coming months.

"Poland is a stalwart U.S. ally, and Poland's security is vital to the collective defense of NATO's eastern flank," the State Department said. "In addition to its central support role in facilitating international assistance to neighboring Ukraine, Poland has demonstrated its ironclad commitment to strengthening regional security through its robust investments in defense spending."

The State Department said the U.S. government will provide up to $60 million to help accelerate Poland's defense modernization by supporting urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States.

"FMF direct loans are a security cooperation tool reserved for some of our most important security cooperation partners," the State Department said. "Loan proceeds will further advance Poland's military modernization effort across a wide range of capabilities, substantially contributing to strengthening the defense and deterrence of NATO's eastern flank."