We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Trump says 'major progress' made toward US military base in Poland US President Donald Trump said that Washington and Warsaw were making 'major progress' toward establishing a US military base in Poland, potentially giving the United States a permanent military foothold on NATO's eastern flank even as his administration reviews its broader troop presence in Europe. Planes are seen at the US military airbase in Ramstein near Landstuhl, Germany, July 20, 2020. © Kai Pfaffenbach, US President Donald Trump said Thursday there had been "major progress" towards establishing an American military base in Poland, after Warsaw said it was holding talks with Washington on the issue. "Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S.
Army base in Poland," Trump said on social media. "If this happens, the location will be announced very soon. This will be a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance." Trump's announcement comes despite his administration launching a formal review of its military presence in Europe, raising fears among allies that it could cut back its forces in European nations.
But Poland, which borders both Ukraine and Russia on NATO's eastern flank and spends around five percent of its GDP on defense, is working to strengthen the US presence on its soil. "We are ready to continue our efforts to strengthen our defense cooperation: seriously, responsibly, and always together," Nawrocki said on X. "I can assure you that the Polish government will do its utmost to provide the best possible location for the US Army base." Nawrocki is a conservative ally of Trump, and he visited the White House last year.
During that visit Trump offered to send more US troops to Poland. Polish deputy defence minister Pawel Zalewski said in August that his country was discussing with the United States whether to set up a permanent US base on its territory. "We have already completed the initial stage (of the process), not to mention the political will, which was expressed long ago," Zalewski told public broadcaster TVP.
Almost 10,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in Poland -- which is also an EU member state -- but almost exclusively on a rotational basis. Washington has levied heavy criticism against a number of European countries that refused to allow US forces to use NATO bases on their territory in their war with Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had also threatened to reduce his country's contribution to the alliance's budget if certain states refused to honor the commitments made last year at the NATO summit in The Hague.
At that summit, NATO allies pledged to devote by 2035 at least five percent of their GDP to security spending, including 3.5 percent devoted strictly to military expenditures. US will review its military presence in Europe, Hegseth tells NATO Pentagon says it reduced US troop brigades in Europe from four to three 1. 1 ## EU chief calls for creation of ‘European Security Council’, backs partnership with Canada Europe 2. 2 ## Houthis report Saudi strikes as Riyadh accuses them of targeting Mecca As it happened Middle East 3. 3 ## ‘Gut-wrenching pain’: First conviction in French school sex abuse scandal fails to quell parents’ anger Analysis France 4. 4 ## US announces charges against five alleged agents for Russia over assassination plots Americas 5. 5 ## Ivorian footballer Malick Yalcouyé falsely accused of lying about his age 6. 6 ## NATO jets down drone over Lithuania as Russian ship fires flares at Danish helicopter Europe © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
