Countering Russia: Poland offering $2 bn to host US military base, claims Trump
WASHINGTON: US President Trump said on Wednesday he is seriously considering a request from Poland for US troops to be permanently based in the strategically important country on Europe’s flank with an “aggressive” Russia.
At a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the White House, Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least $2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which would likely irk an increasingly assertive Moscow. “The President offered us much more than $2 billion to do this, so we are looking at it,” Trump said.
“We are looking at it from the standpoint of, number one, military protection for both countries and also, cost. We’re looking at it very seriously,” the President said earlier. “If they’re willing to do that (pay), it’s something we will certainly talk about.”
Duda said NATO member Poland, which was long dominated by Russia and the Soviet Union, wants “a permanent American base in Poland.” He joked the base could be called “Fort Trump”. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis praised Poland for taking a lead in increasing its military spending, but stressed that no decisions had been made regarding a permanent US troop presence. “The questions are many,” Mattis told Pentagon reporters. “As you know, it’s not just about a base. It’s about training ranges, it’s about maintenance facilities at the base.”