Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Poland in Talks With US Over Permanent Military Base
Poland is a country in Europe that sits right next to Russia and Ukraine.
Almost 10,000 American soldiers are already in Poland to help keep it safe.
Right now they visit in turns, but Poland wants them to stay for good.
So Poland is talking with the United States about building a permanent American base.
Poland's deputy defence minister, Pawel Zalewski, says the first part of the talks is done.
The two countries are already sharing ideas, but nothing is official yet.
The United States is also checking how many soldiers it keeps in Europe.
It wants European countries to take more responsibility for protecting themselves.
Poland spends about 5 per cent of its money on defence, which is a lot for a country.
This matters because Poland is an important part of NATO on Europe's eastern edge.
Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski confirmed talks with Washington on establishing a permanent American military base in Poland.
Almost 10,000 US troops are currently stationed in Poland, nearly all on a rotational basis.
The US last week launched a formal review of its military presence in Europe, urging the continent to assume 'primary responsibility' for its conventional defence.
Poland, a NATO and EU member bordering both Russia and Ukraine, allocates around 5 per cent of its GDP to defence.
Warsaw and Washington are already exchanging proposals, though Zalewski said the talks remain unofficial at this stage.
- Who
- Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski and Washington officials are leading the talks; US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to reduce the US contribution to NATO's budget.
- What
- Negotiations over establishing a permanent American military base in Poland.
- When
- Announced on a Wednesday, following the formal US review of its European military presence launched last week.
- Where
- Poland, a NATO and EU member on NATO's Eastern flank bordering both Russia and Ukraine.
- Why
- To give Poland a permanent US presence on NATO's Eastern flank while Washington pushes European allies to assume primary responsibility for their conventional defence.
Poland and European allies
United States / Washington
Permanent US base in Poland
Poland and European allies
Poland wants a permanent American base on its territory to strengthen the US presence on NATO's Eastern flank, given it borders both Russia and Ukraine.
United States / Washington
The US is formally reviewing its European military presence to push Europe to assume 'primary responsibility' for its conventional defence, which could alter or reduce its footprint.
Alliance commitments and base access
Poland and European allies
Some European countries refused to allow US forces to use NATO bases on their territory during the conflict with Iran and have not honoured the defence spending commitments made at last year's NATO summit in The Hague.
United States / Washington
Washington criticised those refusals, and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to reduce the US contribution to NATO's budget if member states do not honour their commitments.
- US troops in Poland
- Almost 10,000, stationed nearly exclusively on a rotational basis
- Poland's defence spending
- Around 5 per cent of GDP
- Talks status
- Initial stage completed; proposals exchanged but not yet official
- US Europe review
- Formal review of US military presence in Europe launched last week
- NATO 2035 pledge
- At least 5 per cent of GDP on security spending, including 3.5 per cent on military expenditures
- US Defence Secretary
- Pete Hegseth, who threatened to reduce the US contribution to NATO's budget
- Poland's location
- Borders both Russia and Ukraine; NATO and EU member state
