Trump says US, Poland make major progress on permanent US Army base
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US President Donald Trump said Washington and Warsaw are making major progress toward establishing a permanent US Army base in Poland. Polish President Karol Nawrocki welcomed the announcement and pledged to provide the best possible location. The announcement came on the 87th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.
Key Facts
- Trump said the location of the base will be announced very soon if the plan proceeds.
- Polish Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski said in August that initial discussions on permanent US military presence were completed.
- Polish and US officials held talks in Warsaw on September 10 on strengthening the US military presence.
- The Pentagon is conducting a broader review of the US military presence in Europe.
- Eight Democratic senators urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure the State Department is fully involved in the review.
The Announcement
Trump made the statement in a post on Truth Social on September 17. He credited the bold leadership of Polish President Karol Nawrocki for the progress. Nawrocki responded on X, assuring that the Polish government will do its utmost to provide the best possible location for the base. Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Polish president's chancellery, called the development great news for Poland.
US Force Posture Review
The discussions over a possible permanent base come as the Pentagon conducts a broader review of the US military presence in Europe. Eight Democratic senators, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure the State Department is fully involved in the review. The lawmakers said decisions involving troop deployments, basing arrangements, status-of-forces agreements, and host-nation negotiations should be handled through an interagency process. They also said US ambassadors and chiefs of mission in countries potentially affected by changes had not been adequately included in consultations. The State Department has disputed the characterization that its officials have been excluded from the process.
Polish Push for Permanent Presence
Warsaw has been seeking a larger allied presence on NATO's eastern flank since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In June, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Pentagon was ready to consider a proposal for permanent stationing of American troops in the country. At that time, no final decision had been made. The United States currently has troops stationed in Poland on a rotational basis. A senior Western official familiar with the discussions told RFE/RL that the possible base in Poland is being considered as part of the broader US force-posture review.
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