Polish president proposes permanent US base called 'Fort Trump,' despite NATO restriction
President Trump's name appears on dozens of buildings worldwide, but if the leader of Poland has his way, properties like Trump Tower and Trump International Hotel may soon be joined by a conspicuously named military installation: Fort Trump.
Speaking with Trump and reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, told Trump that he'd like the U.S. to create a permanent military base with that name in Poland -- and that Poland would pay more than $2 billion for the project.
Duda emphasized that his country was "willing to make a very major contribution to the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland."
Trump said he would consider the proposal. Facing Russia's increased military activity in the region, Poland has been pressing for the 3,000 U.S. troops now deployed in Poland on a temporary, rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence.
A 1997 NATO-Russia agreement technically forbids U.S. or NATO troops from being permanently based in former Warsaw Pact countries, including Poland. Over the summer, the U.S. ambassador to NATO told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” that the Trump administration was considering the move anyway.
Polish president proposes permanent US base called 'Fort Trump,' despite NATO restriction