The United States got surprised by Poland when the NATO-member nation announced that it is ready to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to an American base in Germany to help Ukraine fight off Russian invaders. However, Washington immediately declined the offer.
According to the Pentagon, though the US wants to rush weapons deliveries to war-torn Ukraine, the idea of flying combat jets from NATO areas into the war zone could bring up "serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance."
NATO has stated that it does not want to engage in a military confrontation with Russia, while President Joe Biden has declared that the United States will not deploy troops into Ukraine to fight Russian forces, per Reuters.
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland explained to Congress that Poland did not consult with the United States before issuing its statement, according to Politico. She said the incident was "a surprise move by the Poles."
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that the US will continue to "consult with Poland" and other NATO allies to address the issue and the "difficult logistical challenges it presents." Though the US government "does not believe" that Poland's offer is "tenable."
On Tuesday, Poland's foreign ministry declared that its MiG-29 fighter jets were ready to be deployed to Germany's Ramstein Air Base and make them available to the US. It also advised allies with similar aircraft to take the same action.
Risky Move
The decision to transfer Polish-owned planes to Ukraine was "ultimately" issued by the Polish government, according to Kirby, adding that the idea shows the complications of the situation, given Russia's threats regarding weapons being provided to Ukrainians to be used against Moscow's troops.
The Pentagon spokesperson said that the possibility of fighter jets under the control of the United States government flying from a US/NATO base in Germany into the airspace of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine "raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance."
Ukraine has sustained massive losses since Russia attacked the Easter European country last month. Top Ukrainian officials since asked other countries that operate the aircraft to transfer their MiG-29s. Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly such aircraft.
The Polish government would avoid the logistical issue of getting the warplanes over the border by transferring them to American custody rather than directly turning them over to the Ukrainians. However, it is unclear whether the US would legally accept the transfer of the Polish airplanes.
Impact on VP Harris' Poland Visit
Poland's unexpected announcement complicates US Vice President Kamala Harris's trip to Warsaw, which will begin late Wednesday.
According to officials, Harris was anticipated to tackle the fighter jet issue while in Poland.
The White House has earlier noted that it was in talks with the Polish government about supplying Ukraine with its Soviet-era fighter airplanes and having the US replace the planes with F-16s.
According to CNN, a Polish official believes Harris' visit will be a good opportunity for the US to reveal further details concerning aircraft transfers, but the Pentagon response implies this is uncertain.
Other nations in negotiations with the US considering participating in similar transfers are keeping their discussions private so as not to raise expectations, according to a central European diplomat.
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