Poland offers $15,000 per US soldier annually to host permanent base

September 26, 2026 at 03:29 AM2 min

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Poland is offering to pay $15,000 a year for every US soldier stationed on its territory and cover infrastructure costs as Warsaw and Washington move closer to a permanent American military base. Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski disclosed the offer in Washington on September 25, saying negotiations with the Pentagon now focus on implementation. The proposal comes as the Pentagon reviews its European force posture and President Donald Trump signals progress toward a base announcement.

Key Facts

Poland will pay $15,000 per year for each US soldier stationed in the country and cover infrastructure costs under its offer for a permanent American base.
Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski disclosed the offer in Washington on September 25, saying negotiations with the Pentagon now focus on implementation details.
President Donald Trump said on September 17 that progress was being made toward a US Army base in Poland and its location could be announced soon.
The United States already has thousands of troops in Poland, mostly on a rotational basis, and Poland has become a major hub for NATO operations on the alliance's eastern flank.
Zalewski said a permanent base would send a direct signal to Moscow and that an attack on Poland would risk bringing Russian forces into direct conflict with US troops.

Poland's Financial Offer

Poland is offering to pay $15,000 a year for every US soldier stationed on its territory and to cover infrastructure costs as part of a proposed permanent American military base. Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski disclosed the terms in an interview with RFE/RL in Washington on September 25. "We are offering very special conditions for American troops," Zalewski said, adding that Poland would cover infrastructure costs and the annual per-soldier payment. Asked who would pay, Zalewski replied: "It's paid by the Polish taxpayers."

Negotiation Status

Zalewski said negotiations with the Pentagon are now focused on how to implement the plan, including the forces, capabilities, and possible locations involved. He declined to say which US units could be deployed or where, but said Warsaw expects greater clarity after Washington completes its broader review of its European military posture. President Donald Trump said on September 17 that progress was being made toward establishing a US Army base in Poland and that its location could be announced soon. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Strategic Rationale

Zalewski argued that a permanent base would create a permanent commitment less dependent on changes in the political or military environment. He said such a deployment would send a direct signal to Moscow and that an attack on Poland would risk bringing Russian forces into direct conflict with US troops. "It makes a very important, urgent message to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin that the US has strategic interests in Poland, and that attack on Poland would be the attack on US armed forces in Poland," Zalewski said. He also said the permanent base is not an act of altruism but reflects "very well understood American interests."