Don’t Get Used to Western Unity
AtlanticSep 09, 2022
US Turns Down Poland's Plan to Send Fighter Jets to Ukraine
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Image copyright: Reuters [via Business Insider]
The Facts
The US and Poland found themselves in diplomatic turbulence on Tues. after Poland's Foreign Ministry publicly offered to transfer all of its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets "immediately and free of charge" to the US air base in Ramstein, Germany.
The snafu comes after US Sec. of State Anthony Blinken on Sun. said that NATO countries like Poland had a "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine, amid calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more assistance.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This is nothing but a communication breakdown between Poland and the US. Although she was already on her way there for other matters, VP Kamala Harris has just touched down in Warsaw and these logistical issues regarding important support for Ukraine will soon be dealt with.
Republican narrative
In publicly offering to send its jets to a US airbase, Poland revealed the duplicity of the Biden administration. The Democrats want to draw the US and NATO into a wider conflict with Russia, but don't want any of the blame for it.
Pro-establishment narrative
The US is right to be wary of sending 28 Polish jets to Ukraine – it's a move that would bring small benefits on the battlefield and entail large risks of a wider war.
