Poland’s deputy defence minister, Cezary Tomczyk, said the United States has shown interest in a permanent US military base in Poland after Warsaw approved steps to enable it. The proposal would be jointly funded and aimed at NATO’s eastern flank. The US Department of Defense said it had no new announcement.
International
-Sathish Raman
A senior Polish defence official said the United States has shown interest in a permanent US military base in Poland. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk spoke after Poland approved steps to enable such a base on NATO’s eastern flank. Tomczyk described the move as a formal opening for Washington to consider.
Poland’s deputy defence minister, Cezary Tomczyk, said the United States has shown interest in a permanent US military base in Poland after Warsaw approved steps to enable it. The proposal would be jointly funded and aimed at NATO’s eastern flank. The US Department of Defense said it had no new announcement.
Tomczyk told The Associated Press that cost sharing is part of the idea. The Americans are interested in the Polish offer to place a permanent base here, because it would be financed by both countries, Tomczyk said. US Defence Department officials in Washington later said they had nothing new to announce.
Permanent US military base in Poland and Poland’s latest government steps
The Polish government passed a resolution on Tuesday linked to the proposed permanent US military base in Poland. Tomczyk said the decision was meant as an invitation to the Americans. When asked if Washington had shown clear interest, Tomczyk said both sides were in a working dialogue and then Poland prepared an official offer.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland was trying hard to secure a permanent US military base in Poland. Kosiniak-Kamysz also said the final call would rest with the Americans. Around 10,000 US troops are usually in Poland, and most serve on rotation.
Permanent US military base in Poland amid US troop decisions in Europe
Poland wants thousands of US soldiers to be based permanently as the US reviews its military footprint in Europe. The review includes troop numbers and weapons. In May, the US abruptly stopped deploying 4,000 soldiers to Poland. The halt came despite the Trump administration calling Poland a model ally.
US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened to move troops out of Germany. That was tied to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticising the US on Iran. Officials said the Poland halt caused confusion across both sides of the Atlantic. Tomczyk joined a Polish team sent quickly to Washington for talks.
Permanent US military base in Poland and talks after troop announcements
Tomczyk was still in Washington when Trump posted that the US would send 5,000 more troops to Poland. Later, the US confirmed it was reorganising forces in Europe. However, Washington has not said which units will go where. Polish defence officials have since suggested permanent numbers could rise.
Kosiniak-Kamysz spoke in mid-May about rotation and permanence. Sometimes a rotating model can change into a permanent model and this is always much better, Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said in mid-May. Polish officials said they are watching the US review closely for signs of changes.
Tomczyk said Poland’s offer followed talks, not guesswork. We cant tell fortune from tea leaves, Tomczyk said. But we are a serious state which is presenting a serious offer to the Americans, in connection with the dialogue we are having with the Americans. US officials, for now, offered no further details.
With inputs from PTI
