text: POLAND: Poland is exploring the purchase of 250 Abrams tanks from the U.S. to counter a potential Russian invasion. The deal would cost roughly $3 billion or 21% of Poland’s military budget. During the Reagan National Defense Forum, an unnamed U.S. defense official said, “So, we’re in the process of working through the details of what that might look like, what their options are. But I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to sort of move forward into the next part of the discussion with them in the next few months.” (AC: Approval of the sale is likely to bolster NATO’s perceived strength in Europe, but will face harsh criticism from Russia & Belarus. Increased arms sales will lend credence to Putin’s claims of NATO aggression toward Russia and its interests. NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence missions include around 5,000 U.S. Cavalry soldiers, largely at the behest of Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.