Poland's defense chief: We want constant NATO, US presence

Poland's defense minister says his country wants to have permanent NATO and US troops' presence to ward off security threats.

Poland's security concerns have been raised by the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine and by the role that another neighbor, Russia, has in it.

Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Saturday the goal of Poland's new conservative government is to have a "lasting presence of NATO and American troops and a permanent air defense."

Standing alongside US Ambassador Paul W Jones, Macierewicz said talks are underway concerning the US Patriot system.

Macierewicz spoke following a Polish-US missile defense exercise at a test range in Skwierzyna in western Poland. Poland hopes a NATO summit it is hosting in July will bring assurances of permanent NATO troops' presence on its territory.