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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's new defense minister says the country may back out of plans to purchase French military helicopters and a U.S. Patriot missile system.
Antoni Macierewicz made the comments late Wednesday while briefing a special parliament commission on programs of the conservative government that took power last week.
In remarks posted on the parliament website, Macierewicz said he may reverse deals by the previous pro-EU government to purchase French Airbus helicopters and U.S. medium-range missiles.
He said a new tender may be launched for the purchase of helicopters, open also to Polish manufacturers, if the current negotiations with Airbus fail.
He also said that the U.S. missile offer was not meeting Poland's expectations, and he wanted to open "honest, equal, efficient talks with the American partners."
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