Trump claims 'major progress' on permanent US base in Poland
The US President’s social media announcement signals a shift from rotational deployments to a permanent foothold on NATO’s eastern flank, even as Washington reviews its broader European troop presence.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Washington and Warsaw have achieved "major progress" toward establishing a permanent US Army base in Poland. The announcement, made via social media on Thursday, credits Polish President Karol Nawrocki for the development and describes the potential base as a "historic step" for the US-Polish alliance.
Trump indicated that if the base is established, the specific location will be announced "very soon." This development is significant because approximately 10,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in Poland, almost exclusively on a rotational basis rather than permanently.
The timing of the announcement is notable, as the US administration is currently conducting a formal review of its broader military presence in Europe. This review has raised concerns among allies about potential force reductions, particularly after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to reduce the US contribution to the alliance’s budget if certain states failed to honour commitments made at the recent NATO summit in The Hague.
Poland, which borders both Ukraine and Russia on NATO’s eastern flank, is actively seeking to strengthen its defence cooperation. The country spends around five percent of its GDP on defence, aligning with the pledge made by NATO allies at the The Hague summit to devote at least five percent of their GDP to security spending by 2035.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a conservative ally of Trump who visited the White House last year, responded to the news on social media. He assured the public that the Polish government would do its "utmost" to provide the best possible location for the US Army base.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski had previously stated in August that initial stages of the process were completed and that political will had been expressed long ago. However, the exact legal status of the "major progress" remains unclear, with the final outcome of the US review of its European military presence yet to be determined.
