Poland enters new phase of talks for permanent US military base, with Szczecin as possible site

Negotiations advance

The Polish government said on Sunday that discussions with the United States about hosting a permanent military base have entered a new phase. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz posted on social media that, following a positive reply from the Pentagon in mid‑June to a formal Polish proposal sent on 29 May, a force review is now underway inside the US Department of Defense.

After a positive reply from the US Secretary of Defense to my proposal, we are at the next stage of talks. The Pentagon is conducting a force review that will form the basis for further decisions.

Poland had offered to host a permanent installation similar to those already existing in Germany (such as Ramstein). The American side’s openness, confirmed by Secretary Hegseth, has now turned into preparatory planning.

Current US presence

About 10,000 American soldiers are stationed in Poland today, but the vast majority serve on a rotational basis, units cycle through deployments of several months. The two key permanent elements are the forward headquarters of the US Army’s V Corps at Camp Kościuszko in Poznań and the US Army Garrison Poznań, which handles administrative and logistical support.

Warsaw wants to shift a bigger share of this presence to a permanent footing. That would mean dedicated units, fixed infrastructure, and longer‑term family accompaniment, rather than frequent personnel rotations.

Ease of heavy equipment transport via an additional communication route is enormously important here.

Deputy Defence Minister Stanisław Wziątek indicated in June that a permanent base would most likely be built in western Poland, naming Szczecin as an attractive candidate because of its transport corridors.

Public support

A SW Research poll conducted for the newspaper Rzeczpospolita found 58.5 percent of respondents in favour of a permanent US base, 18.6 percent opposed, and 22.9 percent undecided. Kosiniak‑Kamysz, citing a separate figure, wrote that 60 percent of Poles back the idea.

Wider diplomatic context

The topic was also discussed during President Karol Nawrocki’s recent visit to Washington, where he attended Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations and an MMA gala ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Meanwhile, the US administration is conducting a broader review of its force posture in Europe, expected to conclude within months. Under the so‑called NATO 3.0 concept, European allies would assume greater responsibility for conventional defence while the United States maintains its nuclear umbrella. The review could lead to troop reductions on the continent, but Poland may benefit from the promised dispatch of an additional 5,000 US soldiers, announced by Trump after a last‑minute diplomatic intervention that reversed a Pentagon decision to halt a rotation of 4,000 troops.

No final decision has been taken, but the start of the force review signals that planning on the American side has begun.