The United States and Poland have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation between their defence industries, while talks continue on Poland's long-standing request for a permanent American military base on its territory.

The statement of intent was signed at the Pentagon on Tuesday, 10 November, by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The signing followed the Transatlantic Defense Industry Access Forum in Warsaw on 9 November, which brought together Polish and American defence companies, IRIA News reported.

Hegseth said the two countries had discussed Poland's leadership in NATO and signed the statement of intent on strengthening defence industry cooperation. The aim is to increase the production and maintenance of American military equipment in Poland, including through technology transfers and joint work between companies, and to give Polish-American production access to European funds.

The permanent base question

The meeting also covered Poland's request for a permanent US military base. Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters afterwards that the Pentagon had given a preliminary green light, describing the response as matters moving in a positive direction. He was clear, however, that the final decision rests with President Donald Trump and is expected in early December, when the Pentagon's review of American military deployments across Europe is due to conclude.

The Pentagon's own account of the meeting did not mention the base and did not formally confirm approval of one. No location, construction timetable or additional troop numbers have been announced. That gap matters: the Polish minister's account and the Pentagon's published readout describe the same meeting differently, and only the White House decision will settle the question.

Poland already hosts about 10,000 American military personnel, most of them on a rotational basis. Warsaw wants to add up to 5,000 permanently stationed troops, taking the total to about 15,000, and has offered to pay for the construction. Polish media reported that the offer is worth 15 to 17 billion zloty, or about $3.8 to $4.4 billion, for a base housing about 5,000 troops and their families, with four western cities named as candidates: Bydgoszcz, Poznan, Szczecin and Wroclaw.

What the defence deal covers

The talks also covered practical industrial projects. Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed to a service centre for Apache and Black Hawk helicopters in Poland, and said the United States had approved Poland hosting a service centre for PAC-3 missiles used in the Patriot air defence system, according to Baltic News, which cited Poland's defence ministry.

Hegseth praised Poland for buying American Abrams tanks, F-35 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and Patriot air defence systems. President Trump said in September that significant progress was being made towards a US ground forces base in Poland, crediting the leadership of Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

The US Poland defence deal permanent base talks now turn on the Pentagon review and the White House decision expected in early December. Until then, the signed statement of intent on industry cooperation is the concrete outcome, and the base remains a proposal with Polish backing and American consideration, not a done deal. Sources: IRIA News; Baltic News.