Updated July 2, 2020
U.S. Military Presence in Poland
Introduction
an approximately 750-person Army Logistics Task
Poland has been a major focus of U.S. and NATO efforts to
Force based in Poland but with logistics hubs also in
deter potential Russian aggression in Europe. This is due in
Lithuania and Romania;
part to its geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank,
a U.S. Air Force Detachment at Lask, Poland; and
providing land access to the Baltic states. Although Ukraine
is not a NATO ally, the Russian occupation of Ukraine’s
a U.S. Navy Detachment in Redzikowo, Poland working
Crimea region in 2014 and subsequent initiation of a
on the Aegis Ashore missile defense site as part of
separatist war in eastern Ukraine underscored to many
NATO Missile Defense efforts.
observers that NATO allies, particularly those in Eastern
Europe, could once again be threatened by Moscow. In
The U.S.-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle
response, the United States and its NATO allies have
Group stationed in Orzysz, Poland, includes an 857-soldier
undertaken a number of initiatives to emphasize NATO’s
Armored Cavalry Squadron from the Vilseck, Germany-
collective defense agreements, thereby assuring allies of
based U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
their own security while simultaneously deterring Russian
U.S.-Poland Joint Declaration
aggression. Poland is a critical partner in these efforts.
The United States has bolstered security in Central and
On June 12, 2019, the United States and Poland signed a
Eastern Europe with an increased rotational military
Joint Declaration on Defense Cooperation Regarding
presence, additional exercises and training with allies and
United States Force Posture in the Republic of Poland. The
partners, improved infrastructure to allow greater
declaration proposed adding an additional 1,000 U.S.
rotational military personnel and establishing the following:
responsiveness, enhanced prepositioning of U.S.
equipment, and intensified efforts to build partner capacity
an Army Division Headquarters (Forward). This could
for newer NATO members and non-NATO countries. The
build on the existing Mission Command Element by
European Deterrence Initiative (EDI), launched in 2014
adding staff and command, control, communications,
(originally called the European Reassurance Initiative), an
and intelligence, and planning capabilities;
Overseas Contingency Operations account in the U.S.
defense budget, is the key fiscal mechanism by which it
a joint U.S./Polish Combat Training Center (CTC) in
does so. U.S. military operational activities of EDI are
Drawsko Pomorskie and other locations in Poland;
executed as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR).
A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Approximately 6,000 U.S. military personnel are involved
Reconnaissance Squadron to share information, as
in OAR at any given time, with units typically operating in
appropriate, with Poland;
the region under a rotational nine-month deployment.
an Aerial Port of Debarkation (APOD) to support the
A key strategic question facing policymakers in the
movement of forces for training or contingency
executive branch and Congress is whether existing efforts
operations;
are sufficient, or whether more should be done to militarily
reinforce Europe generally, and Poland specifically. This
an Army Area Support Group (ASG) to provide
discussion was in part prompted by a 2018 proposal by the
maintenance and supply support to current and future
Polish government, which is in favor of an increased U.S.
U.S. forces in Poland;
presence on its territory, under which it would contribute $2
A U.S. special operations forces capability in Poland to
billion toward establishing a U.S. military base in Poland.
support air, ground, and maritime operations. It is
Current U.S. Rotational Forces in Poland
unclear if this capability is intended to be for command
and control and planning purposes only, an actual
The United States has a rotational military presence in
operational capability, or a combination of both; and
Poland of approximately 4,500 personnel, including those
involved in OAR and NATO Missile Defense efforts, and
infrastructure to support the presence of an Army
forces assigned to one of four NATO Enhanced Forward
ABCT, an Army Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), and
Presence Battle Groups. U.S. forces in Poland include
an Army Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
an Army division-level Mission Command Element
A Joint Declaration on Advancing Defense Cooperation,
(MCE) in Poznan, Poland;
signed on September 23, 2019, announced the specific
locations where many of these elements would be located.
elements of a rotational Army Armored Brigade Combat
Team (ABCT) and support units;
Implementing these initiatives is contingent upon the
signing of a formal bilateral Defense Cooperation
an Army Aviation Task Force;
Agreement, which has not yet been concluded.
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U.S. Military Presence in Poland
Additional U.S. Troops to Poland?
collapse of the Soviet Union, due to concerns in some
During a June 24, 2020, meeting at the White House,
member states that this would violate the terms of the 1997
President Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda
NATO-Russia Founding Act, which states,
reportedly discussed the possibility of sending an additional
NAT O reiterates that in the current and foreseeable
1,000 U.S. troops to Poland—over and above the
previously agreed-upon 1,000 troops from last year’s Joint
security environment, the Alliance will carry out its
Declaration on Defense Cooperation. Unlike the June 2019
collective defence and other missions by ensuring the
Joint Declaration, specific organizations and missions
necessary interoperability, integration, and capability for
reinforcement rather than by additional permanent
related to the United States’ new 1,000 troop commitment
stationing of substantial combat forces.
were not publicized.
Accordingly, the enhanced NATO presence has been
Permanent Basing vs. Rotational Forces? referred to as “continuous,” but rotational. Proponents of
Several observers have asserted that it might be more
extended permanent basing assert that the “current security
politically reassuring and financially efficient to
environment” has changed considerably since 1997, largely
permanently station these “heel-to-toe” rotational forces in
due to Russian activities, and that NATO should therefore
Poland. Those in favor of permanent basing also note that
no longer be constrained by the NATO-Russia Founding
understanding the region’s human and geographic terrain
Act.
may require forces that are present for longer than nine
months.
Figure 1. Poland and Its Environs
Others contend that these rotations force military units in
the continental United States to routinely test their ability to
deploy to other theaters and exercise critical logistics and
mobility capabilities. According to this view, after nearly
20 years of expeditionary operations in the Middle East
region, the skills and capabilities necessary to mass U.S.
forces onto the European continent and transit them to the
front lines have not been sufficiently trained and exercised.
Heel-to-toe rotations also could allow U.S. forces to
develop those skills while simultaneously identifying and
developing solutions to logistical issues in Eastern Europe
that might slow down a U.S./NATO response to a crisis .
From a military standpoint, most observers contend that
regardless of whether forces are permanent or rotational,
Source: CRS. Data from U.S. Department of State.
exercising these capabilities is critical. In the event of war
Burden (Cost) Sharing?
on the European continent, the United States may choose to
flow significant additional forces across the Atlantic, an
Some observers, including President Trump, contend that
undertaking that would be complex under optimal
European allies have not invested sufficient resources in
circumstances, and exponentially more so under conditions
their militaries and that, as a result, the United States has
of war, when an adversary might seek to actively prevent
shouldered too much of the financial burden associated with
the arrival of U.S. service members and equipment (“Anti-
Europe’s defense. Such observers often note that most of
Access/Area Denial”). Some officials also have expressed
NATO’s allies in Europe have yet to meet a pledge made in
that the United States’ ability to move equipment in a
2014 to increase their defense budgets to 2% of GDP by
timely fashion, in particular heavy tanks and fighting
2024. According to NATO, Poland’s defense expenditures
vehicles, from U.S. bases to the ports from which the
were 2% of GDP in 2019. The Polish government plans to
equipment is shipped, is an area in need of improvement.
increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
Concerns Regarding Russian Reactions?
Congressional Response
Recent developments regarding U.S. forces in Poland have
Congress has broadly supported the stationing of U.S forces
raised questions about how Russia might interpret, or
in Poland as part of a long-term strategy to deter Russian
respond, to those forces. The situation is complicated by
aggression in Europe. Section 1248 of the John S. McCain
Kaliningrad, a 5,800-square-mile Russian exclave wedged
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
between Poland and Lithuania. Kaliningrad is a key
(P.L. 115-232) expressed the sense of Congress in support
strategic territory for Russia, allowing the country to project
of “enhanced defense cooperation with Poland, including
military power into NATO’s northern flank. The territory
continued presence of United States forces in Poland and
has a heavy Russian military presence, including the Baltic
increased training, exercises, and other activities focused on
Fleet and two airbases. Russia has deployed Iskander short-
improving effective joint response in a crisis.”
range nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Some analysts express concern that additional U.S. forces
Kathleen J. McInnis , Specialist in International Security
in Poland could escalate tensions in and around
Kaliningrad. NATO continues to resist calls to deploy
Derek E. Mix, Specialist in European Affairs
troops permanently in countries that joined after the
IF11280
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U.S. Military Presence in Poland
Disclaimer
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