Former US President Donald Trump stated on social media that "major progress" has been achieved in plans for a new US Army base in Poland, attributing this development to the "bold leadership" of Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Trump indicated that the base's location would be announced imminently, calling it a "historic step" for the US-Polish alliance. Polish officials, including President Nawrocki, expressed gratitude and commitment to the partnership, with Nawrocki emphasizing that Poland is prepared to offer the best possible location for the base.
This announcement follows a long history of Polish efforts to host a permanent US military presence. In May, Vice President JD Vance initially dismissed concerns about a canceled deployment of 4,000 US forces to Poland, only for Trump to confirm two days later that the deployment would proceed with an increased force of 5,000 troops. Currently, approximately 10,000 US forces are stationed in Poland on a rotational basis. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in June that the US military was considering Poland's proposal for a permanent base, and more recently, he suggested that the rotational presence could become permanent "in a matter of weeks."
Poland has actively pursued a greater allied military presence on NATO's eastern flank since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz submitted a formal proposal for a new permanent US base in May 2026, and the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution in June to facilitate its creation. Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed in June that the Pentagon viewed Poland's proposal positively and indicated that establishing the base would be a multi-year, multi-billion dollar investment co-financed by both countries. He further elaborated that Poland is willing to cover infrastructure costs, estimated between PLN 15 billion and PLN 17 billion (approximately $3.9 billion to $4.5 billion), highlighting that no other European nation offers similar financial commitment for a permanent US military presence. While the specific structure and size of the base remain unknown, Trump's announcement signals a significant advancement in this long-standing objective.
