Poland's President Confirms U.S. Troops Will Stay in Europe, Eyes 'Fort Trump' Base

February 18, 2025
Poland's President Confirms U.S. Troops Will Stay in Europe, Eyes 'Fort Trump' Base
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that an increase in American troop presence in Poland could be expected, aligning with Duda's hope for a permanent base known as 'Fort Trump'.

  • Currently, approximately 78,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe, with around 37,000 in Germany and about 10,000 in Poland on a rotational basis.

  • Concerns about potential troop withdrawals stem from U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for NATO allies to significantly increase defense spending, with a target of five percent of GDP.

  • The U.S. military presence in Poland has increased since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and further expanded following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

  • Poland's President Andrzej Duda has reassured that the U.S. is not planning to withdraw troops from Europe, following discussions with U.S. officials.

  • Duda emphasized that there is no American intention to reduce military activities concerning security in Europe, particularly along NATO's eastern flank.

  • U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is visiting Poland en route to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umjerow.

  • During a visit to troops in Stuttgart, Hegseth confirmed that there are no immediate plans to reduce troop numbers in Europe but noted a global review of military capabilities is underway.

  • Duda revived the proposal for a U.S. military base in Poland, dubbed 'Fort Trump', which he initially suggested during a 2018 visit to the White House.

  • Trump's administration has suggested the possibility of withdrawing about 20,000 U.S. soldiers from Europe, raising alarm among European nations.

  • Poland aims to maintain strong U.S. support for NATO amid growing concerns about Russian aggression in the region.

  • Duda expressed confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump's decisive leadership in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Summary based on 5 sources


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