They need everything-else defense also.
Well, they are a part of NATO. So if they’re attacked, NATO is obliged to respond.
Though these days, I wonder if NATO has the will.
Part of the hold-up on this agreement was over Polish insistence that the US subsidize Polish military modernization to a much higher level than the US envisioned. The invasion of Georgia kinda woke everybody up to the seriousness of the situation.
They wanted the Patriots because they might work.
The Poles are not dumb. The “Missile Defense” Star Wars Part Deux big money depended on a fantasy of Iranian ICBMs to hit UK or USA with Iranian warheads. The Russians pointed out that Iran had no such weapons, it must “logically” be meant against Russia, but they could easily knock out the radar in Czechia rendering the boondoggle even more worthless.
The Russians know this, their recent temper tantrum is from lack of control, that Poland won’t follow it’s dictates.
Thats what they were holding out for, they know what really is inside Vlad and it ain’t good.