Berlin, December 17, 2025 (Agencies) – Germany has officially announced the withdrawal of all Patriot air defense systems and its military forces from Poland, including batteries that had been deployed to protect Rzeszów Airport near the Ukrainian border.
The mission, which began in early 2025, was aimed at safeguarding one of NATO’s most critical logistical hubs for military and humanitarian supplies bound for Ukraine. Around 200 German service members operated two Patriot fire units during the deployment.
The withdrawal marks the conclusion of Germany’s Air and Missile Defence Task Force mission in Poland. On December 10, the systems were formally handed over to Dutch forces, ensuring continuity of NATO’s air defense coverage along the eastern flank.
The deployment gained heightened importance in September when Russian drones violated Polish airspace, prompting NATO defenses to intercept several of them. German officials stressed that while the Patriots have now returned to Germany, Berlin remains committed to supporting NATO’s collective security and reinforcing deterrence measures in Eastern Europe.
The move underscores NATO’s rotational burden-sharing among allies, while also reflecting Germany’s financial and operational constraints amid broader European defense challenges.