The Americans requested an offer, which is why the Ministry of National Defence sent such a letter of intent. This is an important signal that a window of opportunity has opened and must be seized as quickly as possible. Now we need to turn this into concrete actions – secure financing, prepare a special legislative act, select a location, begin planning work, adopt a schedule, and present it to the Americans, said Bartosz Grodecki, Head of the National Security Bureau, in an interview published on Wednesday in “Rzeczpospolita”.
US Troops in Poland
Grodecki assesses that the presence of US troops in Poland remains a key element of security and a political signal toward eastern neighbors. As he emphasizes, Poland is a “model ally” of the United States, and decisions regarding the continued rotational presence of troops will belong to the American side.
Grodecki stressed that during talks with representatives of the US administration, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, Poland asked about the possibility of a permanent presence of American troops. In response, the Americans reportedly requested a formal offer, and the Ministry of National Defence sent a letter of intent. The Head of the National Security Bureau considers this a “window of opportunity” that should be used.
According to Grodecki, Poland should prepare a comprehensive proposal covering financing, legislative solutions, the investment location, and an implementation schedule. He estimates the cost of a new American base at at least several billion zlotys. In his view, the project could be completed within two to three years, and after presenting the offer, lobbying efforts on both sides of the Atlantic will be necessary.
Russian Threat
Referring to threats from Russia and Belarus, Grodecki points to the risk of actions below the threshold of war, such as provocations, attacks on critical infrastructure, or attempts to undermine the credibility of state response systems. However, he notes that current assessments do not indicate a direct threat of armed conflict.
“If we assessed that a rapid threat of a conventional war was real, the state would already be operating in crisis management mode at this moment,” said the interviewee of “Rz”.
Asked about plans for the coming months following his appointment as Head of the National Security Bureau, he listed strengthening international activity as a priority, especially cooperation with security advisors from NATO’s eastern flank countries and transatlantic partners. The second area is the development of the civil defense and population protection system, including identifying gaps and strengthening the resilience of local communities. The third is the development of dual-use technologies and the preparation of a Polish drone program.