General Polko: Permanent U.S. base is key to Poland's security

A permanent U.S. military presence in Poland is crucial for ensuring lasting security within the NATO alliance and fostering technology transfer, according to General Roman Polko.

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The most important thing today is that the American presence in Poland is permanent, that the United States shows in this way that it guarantees our security within the NATO alliance and that, as before, modern technologies are transferred.

"The most important thing today is that the American presence in Poland is permanent, that the United States shows in this way that it guarantees our security within the NATO alliance and that, as before, modern technologies are transferred," Polko stated in an interview with Rzeczpospolita.

While acknowledging the recent increase in U.S. troops as a positive step, Polko stressed that a permanent base offers a more significant strategic advantage. Such a presence, involving soldiers and their families for several years, goes beyond temporary rotations that can be halted at any time. This stability would also encourage American investment in Poland's defense industry, such as maintenance facilities and component production, given Poland's position as a major European buyer of U.S. military equipment.

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It would be good if Poland, which buys F-35s and invests in American industry, could also profit from it.

Polko also touched upon the influence of informal diplomacy and personal relationships in securing such commitments. He recalled how a social media post by Donald Trump, following personal interactions with Polish officials like Karol Nawrocki, quickly led to the decision to send an additional 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland. Polko advised maintaining a diplomatic and subtle approach in such interactions, avoiding being "pushy" during informal events like banquets or sports matches.

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One can hint, drop a word, but it would be inappropriate in such a situation, when everyone is watching the fight, to suddenly ask about the base. But it creates that informal climate, which later, when the documents come, inclines such a person as Donald Trump to consider them positively.

He added that while Poland is actively working towards establishing a permanent base, with government and presidential efforts focused on identifying locations and calculating costs, numerous details still need to be finalized at a working level. Polko urged concentration on these practical aspects rather than on asserting who desires American presence more.

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The key to security would be a permanent base. That is something Poland is strongly playing for right now.