US and Poland discuss a permanent base for 10,000 troops

The US and Poland are negotiating the creation of a permanent American military base that could be designed for approximately 10,000 service members. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced these negotiation parameters during a speech in New York, writes Politico.

According to Sikorski, Warsaw seeks such an American presence that would provide Poland with additional security guarantees. No final agreement has been reached yet, and the location of the future base has not been officially announced.

The negotiations have already reached a practical stage. On September 10, representatives of the Polish Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, and other military structures met with an American delegation led by Pentagon representative William Cappelletti. The parties agreed on a schedule for further consultations and the creation of working groups to work out the details of strengthening the US presence.

Back in June, the Polish government officially tasked the Ministry of Defense with beginning preparations for the creation of a permanent US base. This includes, in particular, determining its possible location, necessary infrastructure, logistics, and costs to be borne by Poland.

At the same time, the figure of 10,000 does not automatically mean the arrival of another 10,000 American troops in Poland. According to official data from the Polish Ministry of Defense, there are currently about 10,000 US service members in the country, mostly on a rotational basis. Therefore, one of the key issues of the negotiations is precisely the transition to a more stable and permanent form of American presence.

Poland already has permanent American military structures, including the forward command of the US Army's V Corps in Poznań. In addition, American units are stationed in Powidz, Żagań, Redzikowo, and other locations.

The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of a broader review of the American military presence in Europe. Warsaw insists that future changes should not weaken NATO's eastern flank, while a permanent base should consolidate the long-term presence of the USA in Poland.

Source materials: Politico, Ministry of Defense of Poland, Ministry of Defense of Poland