Trump Signals 'Major Progress' Toward New US Army Base in Poland

He gave credit to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a right-leaning leader closely aligned with Trump's political movement, praising what he called Nawrocki's "bold leadership" on the matter. Trump described the potential base as something that would mark a historic moment for the US-Polish alliance.

Nawrocki responded warmly, thanking Trump for his firm commitment to the partnership between the two nations. Writing on X, he said Poland remains fully prepared to keep deepening defense ties, describing the effort as serious, responsible, and always collaborative. He also promised that the Polish government would work hard to secure the best possible site for the American base.

Timing Tied to a Historic Anniversary
Marcin Przydacz, who serves as Nawrocki's foreign policy adviser, revealed that the presidential office had worked closely with the White House to coordinate when the announcement would be made public. He explained that the two sides had been in direct contact, discussing the right moment to share the news.

That timing wasn't random either. Przydacz noted that September 17 was chosen deliberately, since it marks the anniversary of the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland back in 1939. As for the location itself, he confirmed that two possible sites remain under consideration, with talks still ongoing before a final call is made.

Poland's Long Push for a Permanent US Presence
Trump stopped short of confirming whether the base would house permanently stationed American troops, something Poland has been actively lobbying for. Poland's defense minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said earlier this week that he's set to meet US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington next week to discuss Poland's security needs and the possibility of a lasting American troop presence. He added that a final decision on the base could come within the next few weeks.

Poland officially put forward its proposal for a permanent US base back in June, not long after Washington revealed plans to pull around 5,000 troops out of Germany, currently home to the largest American military footprint in Europe. Last week, a US delegation traveled to Poland to personally inspect potential sites for the facility.

Roughly 10,000 US troops are currently stationed in Poland, though the vast majority are there under rotational deployments rather than permanent postings. Warsaw has consistently pushed to change that, arguing that a permanent American presence would reinforce NATO's eastern defenses and send a stronger deterrent signal toward Russia. Officials estimate that building the necessary infrastructure to support such a deployment would cost somewhere between 15 billion and 17 billion zloty, or roughly €3.5 billion to €4 billion.

These discussions are unfolding as the Pentagon carries out a broader review of America's troop presence across Europe, involving around 85,000 personnel. That review has stirred concern that Washington might scale back its footprint on the continent at a moment when Europe faces its most serious security challenge since the Cold War, driven largely by Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.