Polish Minister Says Pentagon Backs Proposed U.S. Base

Poland’s defense minister said the Pentagon had signaled support for a permanent U.S. military base in Poland, but President Donald Trump must make the final decision, expected in early December. The proposed installation has not been approved, and the Pentagon’s public account of talks in Washington did not mention it.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s response to the proposal as a “green light.” He said Hegseth told him that “everything is going in a good direction,” which the Polish minister interpreted as Pentagon support. The final decision rests with Trump, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Poland has offered to pay for construction, with the minister estimating costs at 15 billion to 17 billion zlotys, or about $3.8 billion to $4.4 billion. The proposed base is intended to accommodate about 5,000 permanently assigned U.S. troops. Kosiniak-Kamysz has said the installation could house as many as 25,000 people, including service members, families and support staff.

Four western Polish cities are being considered: Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Szczecin and Wrocław. No location has been selected. Poland currently hosts about 10,000 U.S. troops, most on rotational...