Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a statement of intent in Washington to deepen industrial ties between the two nations. The agreement aims to ensure more American equipment is manufactured and maintained within Poland, including specific technology transfers. Hegseth declared that the alliance is taking its next steps, while Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland has become a strategic partner rather than just a model ally. This shift follows recent announcements where the United States selected Poland for a Patriot missile servicing facility, the first such site outside the US. Additionally, Polish state group PGZ became the first European producer of Barracuda-500M cruise missiles in July. These moves complement an existing center in Poland for servicing Abrams tank engines, established in May.
Industrial depth and EU funding
The meeting coincided with the Transatlantic Defence Industry Access Forum, which gathered 70 Polish and 80 American firms to strengthen commercial links. Kosiniak-Kamysz plans to push for jointly produced US equipment to qualify for EU defence funding, specifically targeting the SAFE programme of defence loans. He noted that this programme largely excludes US manufacturers, creating a barrier for American partners. "We want American equipment manufactured by Polish-American companies to benefit from European funding," he said, adding that he would present this position at the next meeting of EU defence ministers. He described Poland as the US ambassador in the EU, a role intended to bridge transatlantic industrial interests. Meanwhile, Hegseth praised Warsaw for embracing the "NATO 3.0" concept, which urges Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defence. He highlighted Poland’s high spending levels and investments in Abrams tanks, F-35 jets, Apache helicopters, and Patriot systems.
Base approval and troop presence
Kosiniak-Kamysz reported receiving a "green light from the Pentagon" for a new permanent US military base on Polish territory. The final decision now rests with the White House, which is expected to act in early December. President Karol Nawrocki has suggested naming the facility "Fort Trump." This development follows Donald Trump’s May announcement to station an additional 5,000 troops in Poland, prompting Warsaw to formally request the base. Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s desire for a peace deal in Ukraine during the talks. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the secretary encouraged Kosiniak-Kamysz to continue Poland’s steadfast support of Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed broader security cooperation issues during their visit.
