President Donald Trump says he is planning to send more U.S. troops to Poland.
He met with Polish President Andrzej Duda Wednesday at the White House. The two leaders struck a deal to add 1,000 U.S. troops to Poland. President Trump says those troops will be rotated out of Germany.
"Poland will still provide basing and infrastructure to support military presence of about 1,000 American troops. The Polish government will build these projects at no cost to the United States. The Polish government will pay for this," said Trump during a joint press conference with Duda.
Under the agreement, Poland also plans to establish training centers for U.S. and Polish troops and Air Force MQ-9 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance squadron.
Russia's deputy foreign minister responded to the U.S.'s decision, calling it "aggressive intentions," according to Reuters. And a top parliamentary lawmaker told Russian state news that if Russia was suddenly attacked, "Poland would become a clear target for a retaliatory strike."
Poland has been increasing security on its eastern border for years in an effort to deter Russia. Warsaw has even offered President Trump a U.S. military base in the country and played with the idea of naming it Fort Trump. But President Trump has pushed back on the idea, saying Russia would likely respond if Poland added a permanent U.S. base.
