Poland gets Pentagon green light for permanent US base near Russia; 5,000 troops planned

Russia's war in Ukraine has turned Poland into one of Nato's most important military strongholds in eastern Europe. Now, Warsaw wants to make America's military presence in the country permanent, seeking a force that would no longer depend primarily on rotating deployments.Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Pentagon had given a green light to the proposal following his meeting with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington on November 10. However, the final decision rests with President Donald Trump, with a decision expected in early December.According to Kosiniak-Kamysz's account of the meeting, Hegseth responded positively to the proposal, saying "everything is going in a good direction". The Polish minister described the response as a breakthrough in Warsaw's long-standing efforts to secure a permanent American military presence."The permanent presence of US troops in Poland is our absolute priority and we will not abandon this matter. We will argue for this to the very end," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.Poland currently hosts around 10,000 American military personnel, most of whom are deployed on a rotational basis, according to Defense News.The existing deployment includes American ground forces, military support personnel and command structures operating from different locations across the country. The US Army established the permanent US Army Garrison Poland in Poznań in March 2023, providing administrative and logistical support for American forces stationed in the country.The distinction between permanent infrastructure and rotational deployments is important. Although the US already maintains a permanent military command structure in Poland, most of the troops stationed there are periodically replaced through rotations.What is the permanent deployment plan?The proposal centres on accommodating approximately 5,000 permanently assigned American service members in Poland.This would be in addition to the existing deployment of around 10,000 US troops, potentially taking the combined American military presence to approximately 15,000 personnel if the existing force levels are maintained.The proposed deployment would require a significant expansion of existing military infrastructure. Polish officials have identified four potential locations for the new installation, Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Szczecin and Wrocław, all in western Poland.Poland is also preparing to provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate American troops and their families. The proposed facilities would have the capacity to support around 25,000 people, including military personnel and support staff. This would involve residential accommodation, schools and other essential facilities.Warsaw has offered to finance the infrastructure development. Poland has estimated the investment at between 15 billion and 17 billion zlotys, equivalent to approximately $3.8 billion to $4.4 billion.A permanent US deployment would strengthen deterrence against potential Russian aggression by ensuring that American forces remain stationed close to NATO's eastern frontier. It would also provide greater continuity in military planning, joint exercises and operational coordination between American and Polish forces.