Head of National Security Bureau for Newsweek: Poland Needs U.S. Troop Presence
In an op-ed for Newsweek the Head of National Security Bureau under the President of Poland Sławomir Cenckiewicz highlights: “A permanent U.S. presence in Poland is essential to protect Europe and strengthen America’s global stance against coordinated adversaries.”
Today, President Karol Nawrocki begins his historic visit to Washington at the invitation of President Donald Trump—a gesture that speaks volumes about the deepening partnership between Poland and the United States.
This invitation is not just ceremonial and the timing of the visit could not be more critical. The ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, led by President Trump, have opened a narrow but crucial diplomatic window—one that requires transatlantic unity. By standing apart from Brussels' paralysis, President Nawrocki demonstrates that Poland speaks with clarity, strength, and purpose at a moment when hesitation only serves the enemy.
With Russia's war in Ukraine entering a dangerous new phase and China cementing its strategic alliance with Moscow, the United States should look to maintain the credibility of its doctrine of deterrence. Poland and the United States already stopped Russia from assaulting the free world once—through the moral leadership of Pope Saint John Paul II, the resolve of President Ronald Reagan, and the clandestine mission of the great Polish patriot General Ryszard Kukliński, who entered into cooperation with the United States against Moscow.
This meeting comes as Washington reviews its force posture in Europe and prepares a new National Security Strategy. A permanent U.S. presence in Poland is essential to protect Europe and strengthen America's global stance against coordinated adversaries. President Nawrocki hopes this visit will highlight Poland's pivotal role, ensuring that America's strategic vision fully recognizes our contribution.
President Nawrocki's message in Washington is clear: Poland is ready to shoulder more of the burden. We have long warned of Russia's aggression and invested more in defense than any other NATO ally. Unlike much of Europe's elite, which pursued "equal distance" between Washington and Moscow, Poland has always trusted the transatlantic relationship, making us a reliable partner. Today we spend almost 5 percent of GDP on defense, with American-purchased systems already a cornerstone of our security and NATO's eastern flank. We are building an army of six divisions—matching or exceeding Europe's largest militaries—with 500,000 active-duty soldiers and strong reserves.
However, this transformation cannot be fully realized without U.S. troops stationed permanently in Poland. Rotational deployments do not provide the constant interoperability and trust that a European frontline requires.
The case for U.S. forces in Poland rests on three pillars. First, the threat environment in Europe and Asia is inseparable. If Moscow succeeds in Ukraine, Beijing will read it as a green light to escalate in the Indo-Pacific. Containing Russia in Europe is therefore essential to deterring China globally.
Second, Poland offers not only geography but also infrastructure and political will, making possible the effective defense of NATO on its Eastern flank. Billions have been invested in bases, airfields, and training centers tailored to U.S. needs. We can provide facilities as comprehensive as Germany's, including hospitals, schools, and community services for American families. The Central Communication Port, a dual-use airport and rail hub now protected by legislation proposed by President Nawrocki and awaiting parliamentary approval, is designed as NATO's mobility backbone on the eastern flank, enabling rapid reinforcement and logistical integration.
Third, Poland has demonstrated loyalty and burden-sharing. Our soldiers have stood alongside Americans in every major U.S.-led mission, and our defense spending sets the standard for the alliance. While parts of European societies have long nurtured a growing strain of anti-Americanism, Poland is different—few nations show such consistent sympathy for American citizens and ideals. This makes Poland a natural advocate for strong transatlantic relations. Permanently establishing a robust U.S. military presence in Poland is not about shifting burdens; it is about enabling a partner already carrying more than its share.
President Nawrocki's vision goes beyond troops and bases. He strongly supports Poland's participation in NATO's Nuclear Sharing program, first signaled by President Andrzej Duda, which would eliminate Russia's last instrument of blackmail in our region. Poland is politically and militarily prepared for this role. Deterrence must be matched by infrastructure: we back extending NATO's fuel pipeline network across our territory and are developing a joint U.S.–Polish service hub to maintain American equipment regionally. These projects will sustain readiness and strengthen America's defense industrial base at a time of global strain.
Energy security is another pillar of President Nawrocki's agenda. He is a firm opponent of the restrictive European Green Deal, which undermines both security and growth, and a strong supporter of Poland's withdrawal from it, while instead championing energy abundance through coal, nuclear power, and LNG.
The logic is simple: Poland is not only a front-line ally but also a gateway to shaping Europe's defense and technological future. Our bases already serve as NATO's lifeline to Ukraine; our infrastructure is being built to support U.S. operations globally.
The bond between Poles and Americans has been forged through centuries of fighting side by side for liberty. Today, under President Nawrocki's leadership, Poland is ready once again to be an anchor of NATO defense and a reliable partner of the United States. The invitation extended by President Trump marks a new chapter in this alliance—a recognition that America's path to peace through strength runs through Warsaw.
Today, as President Donald Trump hosts President Karol Nawrocki, we echo the words of a hero of both Poland and the United States, General Ryszard Kukliński: "I never regarded the United States as an enemy of Poland, but as a great power that could help Poland.... America was the only path through which I could serve my country, and history has indirectly confirmed this."