‘Build FORT TRUMP!’ Poland pleads with Trump for US military base as threats intensify
DONALD Trump is “very seriously” considering the Polish president’s plea to build a permanent US military base in the country, with tensions within the European nation increasing with both Moscow and the Brussels.
Trump reveals he is ‘seriously considering’ troops on Poland
Polish President Andrzej Duda urged his US counterpart to send more troops to his country in light of Russia’s recent military aggression in Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press conference ending Mr Duda’s visit to Washington DC, Mr Duda said: "I invite you to post more American military troops in Poland.”
As he called the presence of American soldiers in Poland a "guarantor of security”, Mr Duda revealed he is even willing to name the base after the American tycoon and president.
He said: “I hope that we will build Fort Trump in Poland together, Mr President.”
I hope that we will build Fort Trump in Poland together, Mr President
Mr Trump, who seemed enticed by the offer, said he deemed the security of Poland “almost as important” to him as it is to the Polish president.
And quizzed on the threat posed by Russia to eastern European countries, Mr Trump said: “I think Russia has acted aggressively.
“I am with the president. I feel that he’s right.”
The US president also revealed the central European country is willing to help the US building the base.
According to a White House transcript of the press conference, Mr Trump said: “Poland is willing to make a very major contribution for the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland.
“Poland would be paying billions of dollars for a base.”
Mr Duda’s latest plea comes after Warsaw’s defence ministry offered the US up to £1.52billion ($2bn) to increase the US presence in the country as a deterrent against a potential Russian aggression.
But this sum is considered by many in the US Congress nothing but a tiny fraction of the costs required to maintain the base in Poland on a long-term basis.
Poland may need more than the US’ go-ahead to have a new American-led military base on its soil.
The proposal is seen controversial at NATO, regarded both provocative towards Russia and a potential violation of the NATO-Russia Founding Act.
The agreement was struck in 1997, and it seems to prohibit the “permanent stationing of substantial combat forces” in central and eastern Europe to ease the tensions in the area.
Poland is not only worried about Russia’s aggressiveness.
The European Commission could ask the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to give its opinion as soon as today on the legality of a controversial judicial law introduced by Poland earlier this year.
Despite the country’s ruling only affecting the Supreme Court of Poland, Brussels wants to intervene as it fears it violates the Polish constitution.
The Polish Supreme Court also asked the ECJ to rule on the new law.
The law imposes a lower retirement age, removing many of the court’s judges including its president - a move Poland’s government said will help to free the country from its last ties to the old communist regime.
Despite being regarded as an interference in the country’s sovereignty, the ECJ’s ruling is not legally binding, which means it can’t force the government to change the law but only advice it to do so.