The Elusive “Fort Trump:” Permanent U.S. Troop Presence in Poland? Not Yet

2018: The idea of a Fort Trump in Poland was suggested by Polish MOD:

Where there are US military bases in the world, host countries participate in the operating costs of these bases. We are realists and we believe that investing in infrastructure that will serve US troops, Polish troops, but also economic development is a great solution – said Minister Blaszczak. The wrangling and tangling as to logistics of who will pay and where base is to be located is ongoing as Poland encourages a U.S. presence:

“Poland’s security is reinforced because of the activity of President Andrzej Duda. The result of the two declarations he had signed is the formula of a permanent presence of US troops in Poland. The result of these declarations is the fact that in Poland operates advanced command post of the US division. General Sylvia is with us, the commander of the US division stationed in Poland. Poland is safer because Polish-US relations are stronger and because President Andrzej Duda has strengthened these relations” – Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, MOD

Talks of cutting troops in Germany and redeploying 1000 of them to Poland are also in the works.

Currently, Approximately 6,000 U.S. and Polish Soldiers will take part in the exercise Allied Spirit DEFENDER-Europe 20 linked exercise, originally scheduled for May, that will take place at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, June 5-19. . Of those, approximately 4,000 U.S. Soldiers will come from the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters (Forward); 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division; and approximately 2,000 Polish Soldiers will come from the 6th Polish Airborne Brigade; 9th Polish Armored Calvary Brigade; and 12th Polish Mechanized Brigade.

BACKGROUND DOD Perspective: U.S., Polish Leaders Agree to Increased American Presence in Poland

JUNE 12, 2019 | BY C. TODD LOPEZ

More than a year of intense Defense Department-led negotiations between the United States and Poland have yielded an agreement that involves additional U.S. infrastructure in Poland, as well as an increase in the number of U.S. rotational forces that operate there.

President Donald J. Trump and Polish president Andrzej Duda signed the agreement in June 2019.

“As stated in the joint declaration, the U.S. and Poland continue to enhance our security cooperation,” Trump said. “Poland will provide basing and infrastructure to support military presence of about 1,000 American troops. The Polish government will build these projects at no cost to the United States. The Polish government will pay for this. We thank President Duda and the people of Poland for their partnership in advancing our common security.”

The president also thanked Poland for meeting the security demands of NATO, saying that insofar as burden-sharing is going, Poland is contributing its fair share to NATO.

“It is among eight NATO allies, including the United States, currently meeting the minimum 2% of [gross domestic product] … for defense spending,” Trump said. “And Poland is there.” Enhanced bilateral cooperation in security will deepen our Polish-American partnership, which is vital to addressing today’s current threats and challenges.”Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan

Duda said the agreement is a “calm but consistent policy” in terms of security cooperation between the United States and Poland.

“This is of breakthrough character,” Duda said. “It moves us to another era. So far, we can say, the Americans were testing the situation in Poland, how it looks, how it feels — what about logistics, whether it is possible to stay in Poland and to successfully attain the goals and implement the tasks of a defensive nature.”

Duda said he thinks U.S. military leaders have determined it is possible to do those things, and this is why the agreement was signed. He also said rotational forces are a good choice.

“It is a rotational presence, yes it is,” Duda said. “This is most beneficial from today’s perspective to train soldiers through rotational presence. By having rotational presence, more soldiers can come to a country, be present there, look at a culture, at the conditions in place in a given country.”

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan said the signing of the agreement underscores the shared values of the United States and Poland, and will serve to strengthen defense ties between the two nations.

“Enhanced bilateral cooperation in security will deepen our Polish-American partnership, which is vital to addressing today’s current threats and challenges,” Shanahan said. “We look forward to this continued defense relationship, and friendship, for years to come.”

While the United States doesn’t permanently station forces in Poland, it does maintain a rotational force in the country. On average, about 4,500 rotational U.S. military personnel are in the country during any month. According to the agreement, the presence is expected to grow by about 1,000 personnel. Those troops will provide additional defense and deterrence capabilities in Eastern Europe. Over time, our shared history of military cooperation, collaborative partnerships, and continued commitment to security in the region have resulted in a strong and prosperous friendship.”Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan

The declaration also indicates the United States will establish a division headquarters in Poland, and that a combat training center will be established at Drawsko Pomorskie in northern Poland for use by both U.S. and Polish forces. Additional training centers around Poland are also called for.

Under the agreement, the U.S. also plans to establish an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance squadron in Poland made up of U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, to establish an aerial port in the country, and to build infrastructure to support an armored brigade combat team, a combat aviation brigade and a combat sustainment support battalion.

Initial infrastructure to support this U.S. growth in Poland, as well as establishment of a U.S. special operations capability and an area support group, are expected to be funded by the Polish government, at no cost to the United States.

“Both countries seek to conclude international agreements and other arrangements necessary to realize the common vision for enhanced defense cooperation, including the streamlining of the functioning of the U.S. forces in Poland,” the agreement reads. “The United States and Poland are to have a regular process to consult and plan for potential force posture adjustments and related infrastructure requirements for the U.S. forces deployed to Poland.”

Previously, Poland had been a member of the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Union from 1955 to 1991. As a member of NATO since 1999, Poland now is looking to expand its contribution to the common defense of NATO partner countries. The U.S. will help Poland to accomplish that goal, Shanahan said.

“The United States and Poland have a long-standing and fruitful defense relationship. Over time, our shared history of military cooperation, collaborative partnerships, and continued commitment to security in the region have resulted in a strong and prosperous friendship,” Shanahan said. “There is no question among NATO allies that the U.S. military presence in Poland contributes to security in the region, providing deterrence and strengthening the alliance, and that by enhancing that presence, we will continue to ensure democracy, freedom and sovereignty.”

2018 from Poland MOD

The foundation of Fort Trump is an investment in our security

30.10.2018

– We talked about the Fort Trump project – about the US base in Poland. We want the US military stationed in Poland to ensure the security of Poland and the entire eastern flank of NATO – said Mariusz Błaszczak, Defense Minister after meeting with John Bolton, adviser to President Donald Trump on national security.

On Monday, the head of the National Defense Ministry conducted further talks  in Washington on the possible location of the US military base in Poland.

As the head of the National Defense Ministry noted, currently the details of the Fort Trump project are discussed in a working group consisting of Polish and American experts. – In March 2019, the Pentagon will present its assessment to Congress. We are striving for this assessment to be good for both sides. I am working to ensure that this project of the presence of US troops in Poland becomes a fact. This is an investment in our security – the minister stressed.

– Where there are US military bases in the world, host countries participate in the operating costs of these bases. We are realists and we believe that investing in infrastructure that will serve US troops, Polish troops, but also economic development is a great solution – said Minister Blaszczak.

The minister reminded that on the one hand Poland is seeking support and closer cooperation with the US, but at the same time it is developing its competences and defensive capabilities.

The head of the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the next round of talks will take place on November 13 – 14. – I will talk with senators and secretary of defense J. Mattis on the subject of preparations for the implementation of the project – he stressed.