The United States formally opened a new missile defense base in northern Poland on Wednesday, a move that the Kremlin swiftly condemned as an effort to “contain” Russia by expanding U.S. military infrastructure near its borders.

The newly inaugurated base, located in Redzikowo, a town on Poland’s Baltic coast, has been under development since the early 2000s. Positioned about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the site is part of NATO’s European missile defense network aimed at protecting alliance members.

Poland has highlighted the base as a testament to NATO’s commitment to Polish security and its longstanding military alliance with Washington. The announcement comes as Poland reassures its citizens of NATO’s support, despite shifting political dynamics in the U.S., including the recent election of Donald Trump as president.

The Kremlin criticized the U.S. base, viewing it as a provocative expansion of NATO forces close to Russian territory. Russian officials have repeatedly voiced concerns over NATO’s military activities near its borders, framing them as a threat to regional stability.

As tensions persist, the base underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe, with Poland prioritizing security ties with NATO while Russia expresses opposition to Western military infrastructure near its borders. (ILKHA)