President Trump said Thursday that “major progress” has been made toward establishing a permanent military base in Poland and that a location could be announced “very soon.”
In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump thanked the “bold leadership” of Polish President Karol Nawrocki for taking “a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance.”
Cezary Tomczyk, a Polish defense official, announced in May that his government approved steps to allow a permanent U.S. base in Poland along NATO’s Eastern flank. He called the resolution an invitation for Americans to come to his homeland.
“The Americans are interested in the Polish offer to place a permanent base here” because it would be financed by both countries, Mr. Tomczyk said, according to The Associated Press.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said his government is doing everything in its power to build a permanent base, but the decision “will always be on the side of Americans.”
U.S. defense officials declined to comment in May on the Polish government’s overture.
Roughly 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland on a rotational basis.
Also in May, the Trump administration suddenly halted the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland despite Mr. Trump labeling the country a “model ally” and praising its government for keeping its commitment to NATO defense spending.
Mr. Trump then quickly reversed course, announcing three days later he was sending 5,000 troops to Poland, saying the switch was, in part, because of Mr. Nawrocki’s election in 2025.
Polish officials see Mr. Trump’s criticism of European nations over NATO defense spending and their lack of support for the Iran war as an opportunity to boost their U.S. ties.
Mr. Trump has threatened to pull troops out of Germany.
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