The US Ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, and the Ambassador of Poland to the United States, Piotr Wilczek have co-written a letter published in the newspaper ‘Rzeczpospolita’ weekly. The letter includes details about the consideration of the US Congress and the Pentagon regarding the further steps needed for the construction of a permanent US military base in Poland. It was underlined in the letter that the Poland is ready to financially support the new project.
The letter is another step forward towards a final decision being taken regarding the construction of the base.
Excerpt of the letter:
“The Congress of the United States and the Pentagon are considering further steps in the matter of a permanent American military base in Poland and the Polish side is ready to support this investment financially. We believe that these actions will help to strengthen the determent in the region, but also will pay attention to president Trump’s priorities concerning the division of defense loads.”
There have been a lot of rumors in recent years about locating a permanent American military base in Poland, but the matter sped up after a mutual declaration for strategic cooperation between Poland and the United States was signed in Washington on September 28th by both presidents: Donald Trump and Andrzej Duda.
Jan Maria Jackowski, an MP for the ruling Law & Justice Party has told Poland Daily that information from the Polish government clearly shows that intensive talks over this project are ongoing. He also believes that the quicker the base is built, the better for Poland’s safety and for NATO
Rzeczpospolita Weekly, leaning on unofficial sources, claims that the decision about a the permanent American military base in Poland has already been made.
Zbigniew Gryglas, an MP who also serves at the vice-President of the Polish-American bilateral group says that project has now reached an advanced stage and that the US Congress has ordered a report from the Pentagon on the feasibility of a US base in Poland. The report is to be presented by March 2019.
In the letter published in ‘Rzeczpospolita’ weekly, the two ambassadors also announced that contracts concerning Poland’s purchase of American natural gas is just the beginning of closer economic relations between Warsaw and Washington. The letter states that as a part of the Three Seas Initiative, US companies will engage Central Eastern Europe in the development of energy, transport and communication infrastructure. Until now, this part of Europe has primarily seen investments financed by EU structural funds.
A positive decision taken in 2019, regarding the construction of a Us base in Poland would be highly symbolical as 2019 will mark the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and the United States.