Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he expects a sign-off by Donald Trump in early December Poland's defense minister said the Pentagon has given the “green light” for a permanent US military base in the country following “breakthrough” talks with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington on Tuesday, but added that final decision rests with Donald Trump. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he expects a sign-off by the US president in early December. Kosiniak-Kamysz said Hegseth told him that “everything is moving in the right direction” when asked about the proposed base, which Warsaw has long sought in order to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and deter Russia. “That means, as we interpret it, that the Pentagon has given the green light for a permanent US military base in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters after the meeting. In a later post on X, Kosiniak-Kamysz described the talks as a “breakthrough" saying: "We are getting closer to our goal and are determined to see this through. For Poland's security!” Around 10,000 American troops are currently stationed in Poland, most on a rotational basis. Warsaw wants to make part of that presence permanent. Poland has offered to cover the infrastructure costs for the base, estimated by Polish officials at between 15 billion and 17 billion zloty (€3.5 billion to €4 billion). 'Strategic partner' of US Kosiniak-Kamysz described his visit to Washington as “probably the most important” in the history of Poland's Defense Ministry. “This is the moment when I can say with full responsibility that Poland is not only a model ally of the United States but has become a strategic partner of the United States,” he added. The talks came as the Pentagon nears completion of a review of its roughly 80,000 troops stationed across Europe. The review has fueled concerns among NATO allies that Trump could scale back the US military presence on a continent facing its gravest security crisis since the Cold War amid Russia's assault on Ukraine. 'One of the most powerful armies in Europe' Hegseth described Poland as a model for other NATO allies. “Poland is building one of the most powerful armies in Europe, ready to ensure its security and defend its territory,” he said. “And today we are taking the next steps to further deepen our alliance.” Poland eyes Tomahawks Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the two countries signed an agreement to increase cooperation between their defense industries, including joint projects. The talks also covered Poland's request to purchase US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and launchers, with Kosiniak-Kamysz saying the Pentagon had given a “positive recommendation.” “We submitted such a request several months ago, and the response is that everything looks good,” he said. The defense minister cautioned that the final decision on the sale rests with the US Congress, but said Warsaw was optimistic. Tomahawks are long-range, precision-guided cruise missiles capable of striking targets roughly 1,600 kilometers away. They fly at low altitudes to evade enemy defenses and can be launched from warships, submarines and specialized ground-based systems. The missiles are used by the US and British militaries and have been deployed in conflicts including recent American operations in the Middle East. Poland, which Trump has frequently praised for its high defense spending, was also chosen last month to host a European service center for PAC-3 interceptors used by sought-after Patriot air-defense systems. The facility, expected to cost around 1 billion zloty (€227 million), will be the first of its kind outside the United States, allowing European operators to service the missiles without sending them across the Atlantic. A bipartisan push Poland, which borders war-torn Ukraine and Russia's heavily militarized Kaliningrad exclave, formally proposed establishing a permanent US military base in May, viewing it as a strong deterrent against possible Russian aggression. No location has yet been selected, although Polish officials have identified four cities under consideration. The proposal is also a rare point of agreement in Poland's deeply polarized politics, with centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government and President Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing opposition, both supporting the project despite their bitter rivalry. Nawrocki, a nationalist aligned with Trump's MAGA movement, has been credited by the US president with helping advance plans for the base. Tusk's government, meanwhile, has led formal negotiations with Washington.
