Poland says Pentagon backs permanent US base, with Trump decision due in December

Poland’s defense minister announced on Tuesday that the Pentagon has given its approval to plans for a permanent U.S. military base in the nation, with President Donald Trump set to make the final decision in early December. During a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the American official assured him that "everything is moving in the right direction," interpreting it as a green light from the Pentagon.

However, the Pentagon's formal endorsement and the December timetable remain unconfirmed. While the Pentagon acknowledged the ongoing discussions on enhancing the permanent U.S. military presence in Poland, Hegseth commended Poland's military expansion, describing its army as "one of the most formidable" in Europe. He also advocated for European NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense, potentially facilitating a reduction in Washington's troop presence across the continent.

Poland currently hosts thousands of American troops, typically on rotating deployments. However, Warsaw is advocating for a permanent base as the Pentagon evaluates its military presence in Europe, with other NATO allies apprehensive about Trump potentially withdrawing thousands more troops. The review process is anticipated to conclude by December.

The project also represents a rare area of consensus between Poland's conflicting leaders. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Karol Nawrocki, a Trump ally who the U.S. president supported in the recent election, agreed earlier this week to collaborate on securing the base, despite their contentious dispute over the control of Poland's highest court.

Nawrocki has embraced the proposed name "Fort Trump," initially suggested by his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, in 2018.