President Donald Trump has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the defense spending plan for fiscal year 2026. One section of the document concerns U.S. military bases in Poland. Under this provision, the United States may allow Poland to independently finance the maintenance of these bases, which is crucial for their continued presence.
With this move, Donald Trump can clearly demonstrate to his voters: I support those allies who are genuinely interested in the presence of American troops in the region. After his conversation with Trump, President Karol Nawrocki emphasized that this argument is one of the key considerations for the U.S. administration.
It therefore appears that the United States has made its move. The document signed by Trump includes—among hundreds of tables and other paragraphs—a section specifically concerning Poland. It states that, “in accordance with the agreement with the Republic of Poland regarding required non-monetary contributions (in-kind support), the Secretary of Defense may accept military construction investment projects for installations or locations on the territory of the Republic of Poland, in the amounts specified in the table.”
Four locations are then explicitly listed:
- the U.S. Army base in Drawsko Pomorskie,
- the U.S. Army base in Powidz,
- the U.S. Air Force base in Łask,
- the U.S. Air Force base in Wrocław.
The spending plans indicate the expansion of the information system in Drawsko, the construction of barracks and a mess hall as well as the purchase of a helicopter for the base in Powidz, and the expansion of the bases in Łask and Wrocław.
American voters have repeatedly expressed their expectation that they are tired of bearing the costs of other countries’ defense. During the election campaign, Donald Trump announced that he would significantly reduce spending and even withdraw U.S. troops from most locations. He also said that those who take defense cooperation with the United States seriously should reconsider their own financial commitment to the matter.