Nawrocki Discusses Permanent US Troop Presence in Poland with Trump

During the NATO summit in Ankara, Karol Nawrocki held discussions with Donald Trump regarding the permanent stationing of American forces in Poland, following recent positive developments from the US defense leadership.

Diplomatic Discussions in Ankara

The annual NATO summit is taking place in Ankara from July 7 to July 8. Karol Nawrocki, who attended an official dinner with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday evening, utilized the event to engage with various international leaders.

Nawrocki confirmed he held a brief conversation with Donald Trump. He noted that their discussions consistently focus on the permanent presence of US troops in Poland, a matter he described as progressing well following correspondence between US Secretary Pete Hegseth and Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Advancing the Defense Proposal

Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz previously proposed the creation of a permanent US military base in Poland. On June 18, he expressed gratitude to the United States for favorably considering his May 29 request to initiate a formal process for the permanent stationing of American troops on Polish soil.

Commitment to Increased Presence

Nawrocki emphasized that he has been advocating for this outcome since his first visit to the US as head of state on September 3. He asserted that President Trump is fulfilling his declarations, describing the path toward permanent US troop presence as now being open at the presidential level.

The President highlighted Trump’s previous assurances that the US military presence in Poland is secure and potentially subject to increase. When asked previously if troops would remain, Trump responded that more would be added if requested.

NATO’s Stance on US Commitment

Addressing questions regarding the reliability of the United States, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the US remains fully committed to the alliance. Rutte noted that while the US requires a secure Europe and Atlantic for its own safety, there is a clear expectation that European and Canadian allies must align their defense spending with American levels, a demand he labeled as entirely fair.