Piotr Lewandowski, Phd for Onet on the Significance of a Permanent U.S. Military Presence in Poland

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Piotr Lewandowski, PhD from the Security and Defense Innovation Center at Łukasiewicz – ITECH gave an interview to Onet, in which he commented on the debate surrounding the potential establishment of a permanent U.S. military base in Poland.

In the interview, the expert highlighted the importance of a permanent U.S. military presence for the security of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank. As he noted, a permanent base – particularly one supported by full infrastructure and accommodating soldiers’ families – would represent a much stronger and more direct U.S. commitment than a rotational presence. In the event of a potential conflict, this would leave less room for political debate in Washington over whether and how U.S. forces should become involved.

Lewandowski also commented on the current model of U.S. troop deployment in Poland and the Baltic states. In his view, a rotational presence strengthens deterrence, but it does not provide the same degree of political and strategic anchoring as a permanent garrison.

The interview also addressed the 1997 NATO–Russia Founding Act, including provisions concerning the deployment of substantial permanent combat forces on the territory of former Warsaw Pact countries. Dr Lewandowski noted that the establishment of a permanent U.S. base in Poland would likely be used by Russia for propaganda and diplomatic purposes.

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