Washington indicated political support for a lasting US military presence in Poland. Final deployment details depend on the Pentagon’s forthcoming Europe basing strategy.
According to official sources, the White House has approved the permanent presence of American troops in Poland. The final decision will depend on the new U.S. strategy for military presence in Europe, which is currently being developed by the Pentagon.
Negotiations in Washington took place between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Polish representatives. After the meeting, the head of the Bureau of International Policy in the President’s Office of Poland, Marcin Pshidač, said that Rubio supports changing the format from rotational to permanent.
There is a “green light” from the White House. I heard such a declaration also from Marco Rubio
– Marcin Pshidač
According to Pshidač, the final model of the presence of American forces in Poland will be agreed after the Pentagon completes work on the new strategy for deploying U.S. forces in Europe.
The Washington decision is linked not only to U.S. strategic interests but also to Warsaw’s high regard as an ally. Rubio called Poland an “exemplary ally,” which allocates a significant share of its GDP to defense and invests in modern weapons and defense technologies.
Perspectives and Positions of the Parties
The head of the Bureau of International Policy also said that the American side confirmed the intention to send about 5,000 military personnel to Poland. At the same time, this does not mean the return to Poland of the rotational armored brigade numbering about four thousand, whose rotation had been suspended.
This should not be seen as a return of that brigade. It is more about a new concept of American military presence
– Marcin Pshidač
Pshidač stressed that the key is not only the numbers but also the combat capability of the units and the move toward permanent presence, which should signal to allies and potential adversaries.
According to the official, the head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, Bartosz Grodecki, will hold talks at the Pentagon on Thursday with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who is responsible for shaping the new model of force deployment in Europe. Also discussed were security matters related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the overall situation in Central Europe and the Middle East.
According to government sources, Warsaw has repeatedly stated its readiness to host a larger number of American troops to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. Currently, about 10,000 American service members are stationed in Poland on a rotational basis.
In the context of prospects for U.S.-Poland cooperation, discussions continue on strengthening the defense partnership and agreeing on the format of force deployment in the region. A decision is expected upon the completion of the Pentagon’s work on the new strategy for deploying forces in Europe.