On Thursday, 17 September 2026, US President Donald Trump announced via the Truth Social platform that progress had been made in talks on establishing a permanent US Army base in Poland, with a potential location to be announced soon. At the same time, according to sources cited by NBC News, the US Department of Defense is considering reducing its troop presence in Europe by at least one-third, or around 25,000 personnel.
Paratroopers from the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade and soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Army’s 411th Armored Engineer Regiment at the Grafenwöhr Training Area in Bavaria / Photo: Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger
„GREAT NEWS! Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland. If this happens, the location will be announced very soon. This will be a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Donald Trump
Meanwhile, according to an article by Dan De Luce, Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, and Abigail Williams published by NBC News, the US Department of Defense, as part of its ongoing Europe Posture Review covering the US military presence in European NATO member states, is considering a far-reaching plan to withdraw aircraft, ships, weapon systems, and tens of thousands of US troops from Europe, despite warnings from NATO allies about the growing threat from Russia. The information comes from seven current and former US and Western officials.
Around 80,000 US military personnel from all branches of the armed forces are currently stationed in Europe. The reduction under consideration amounts to at least 25,000 troops, or about one-third of the current contingent, while some sources suggest cuts of up to 40,000. Germany, Italy, and Spain, which host the largest US bases, would be the most affected.
The plan is part of a six-month review of the US military presence in Europe. Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of US European Command Gen. Alexus Grynkewich is expected to present Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today with a preliminary assessment outlining options concerning air, naval, and ground forces, as well as the possible redeployment of some units to NATO’s eastern flank. Hegseth is expected to submit a final recommendation to President Donald Trump on 6 November. No final decisions have yet been made.
The Trump administration has long argued that European allies should assume greater responsibility for the continent’s conventional defense, while the United States should redirect resources to other regions, including the Indo-Pacific.
It should be recalled that on 1 May this year, the Department of Defense announced that President Donald Trump’s administration had decided to withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany. The President later indicated that the number would be significantly higher. On 9 May, Donald Trump did not rule out transferring troops withdrawn from Germany to Poland. Earlier, in October 2025, the United States began reducing its military presence in Romania.
US troops in Poland
On 13 May this year, US defense media reported that the United States Department of the Army had suspended a planned nine-month rotation of more than 4,000 troops from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team Black Jack Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division First Team from Fort Hood, Texas, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The Polish Ministry of National Defence immediately responded to the reports, denying the information.
On 20 May in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met Gen. Christopher Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The talks focused on the US military presence in Poland.
On 16 June, the Polish Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on taking steps toward establishing a permanent US Armed Forces base on Polish territory. Two days later, during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz discussed the proposal with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who responded positively to the Polish government’s initiative.
On 23–24 July, Deputy Minister of National Defence Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka visited Washington, where, among other issues, she presented the steps taken by the Polish government regarding the proposal for a permanent US presence, including a draft law to finance the US base. She added that the report was very well received by the US side and that teams in both countries were already working on implementing the proposal.
On 10 September, a delegation from the US Departments of State and Defense, including Thomas DiNanno and William J. Cappelletti Jr., visited Poland. One of the objectives of the visit was to examine potential locations for a permanent US Army base in Poland. According to reports, the US side is interested in the western part of the country as a suitable location for such an installation. According to the Polish defense minister, Poland’s share of the cost of such a base could amount to as much as 15–17 billion PLN.
Meanwhile, plans to reduce forces in Western Europe have raised concerns among some US lawmakers and European governments, which warn that a rapid withdrawal could weaken NATO’s ability to deter Russia. In June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened when the Pentagon intended to inform NATO defense ministers about the scale of the potential cuts. Senators have called for the Department of State and US diplomats to be fully involved in the review. It would represent one of the largest changes to the US military presence in Europe since the 1990s.
„GREAT NEWS! Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland…” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mcKbtnyxff
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 17, 2026
Thank you Mr President!!! @POTUS pic.twitter.com/ADKIq5MmYo
— Ambassador Tom Rose (@USAmbPoland) September 17, 2026
Thank you, Mr. President @realDonaldTrump, for your kind words, our friendship and your strong commitment to the Polish-US partnership.
We are ready to continue our efforts to strengthen our defense cooperation: seriously, responsibly, and always together.
I can assure you…
— Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) September 17, 2026
Dzisiaj za sprawą dobrych relacji z Prezydentem @NawrockiKn, Prezydent @realDonaldTrump ogłasza: będą stałe bazy amerykańskie w Polsce. pic.twitter.com/L8Q8PTJb0a
— Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (@prezydentpl) September 17, 2026
💬 Nigdy nie było tak daleko idącej deklaracji Prezydenta USA. Od wielu lat mówimy o stałej obecności. Dziś jesteśmy tego najbliżej w historii. Jest dwóch, silnych i odpowiedzialnych liderów: w Polsce Prezydent Nawrocki, w Stanach Zjednoczonych Prezydent Trump.
💬 Nie ma… pic.twitter.com/v9YfTCusFF
— Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (@prezydentpl) September 18, 2026
