News - World: Poland has received the first shipment of US-made advanced Abrams battle tanks, its defense ministry says, as the European country, a close ally of Ukraine, is striving to boost its military capabilities amid Russia's war in the ex-Soviet republic.

In a statement on Wednesday, Poland's Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the news, saying that the first batch comprising 14 tanks arrived at the port city of Szczecin.

"The first tanks are already on Polish soil, it's an important day for the Polish army," he told reporters.

This is the first shipment of a deal worth $1.4 billion for 116 Abrams tanks that were previously used by the US Marine Corps.

"This year we will have more tanks and they will form a battalion of Abrams tanks," Blaszczak said.

Polish officials said this week a new service center for Abrams tanks will also open in the country. 

In 2022, Poland, a NATO member state, purchased another 250 Abrams in a more modern M1A2 variant, expected to be shipped in late next year.

"Not every country can have such tanks, Poland is the first country outside the United States that will have Abrams tanks in the most modern version," Blaszczak further said.

Back in January, Warsaw announced that it planned to spend four percent of its gross domestic product on defense in 2023.

The European country has signed a number of arms deals, including with the US and South Korea, from whom it ordered K2 "Black Panther" tanks and K9 howitzers.

The country also received the first batch of US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to deploy in the region bordering Russia in mid-May. 

Officials in Warsaw claim that Poland is the world's second-biggest donor (after the US) in terms of military assistance to Ukraine. It supplies Ukraine with tanks, artillery, drones, and other weapons and ammunition. 

Source: Press TV