We'll call it 'Fort Trump!' President says he's considering a permanent American base in Poland

[Dragoon]

The president of Poland appealed to President Donald Trump's well known affection for slapping his name on buildings as he pitched a permanent U.S. military base in his country that he said would be named 'Fort Trump.'

The president raised his eyebrow at the idea but didn't rule it out.

Trump then hailed Poland's offer to pay $2 billion toward U.S. costs, even as he blasted other unnamed 'immensely wealthy' countries the U.S. effectively pays to defend.

Trump says that he's considering the idea and that Poland has offered more than $2 billion to the U.S. to pay for such an effort.


Trump praised Poland's defense efforts, and took a new round of digs at other NATO allies who lag on spending commitments.

'When we're defending immensely wealthy countries and they're not paying for the defense to the United States they're only taking advantage of us,' Trump said, resurrecting a harangue about Germany and other NATO allies who fall short of defense spending pledges.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I was smiling when talking to Mr. President,' said Duda during a joint press conference while standing alongside Trump, whose name adorns the Trump Tower residence where he lives, the Trump golf courses he frequents in Virginia, Florida, and New Jersey, as well as numerous other properties around the country and the world.


I said I would very much like for us to set up a permanent American bases in Poland, which we would call Fort Trump, and I firmly believe that this is possible. I am convinced that such a decision lies both in the Polish interest as well as in the interest of the United States.

There were some chuckles in the East Room of the White House when Duda pitched the idea. After a delay, Trump smiled and raised an eyebrow.

'We believe that the presence of the United States is a guarantor of security in our part of Europe. We ourselves want to invest further. We want to modernize Polish armed forces,' he said.

'We are implementing the largest military investment so far as the Polish armed forces are concerned over the past 30 years,' Duda said.

Trump says they agreed to bolster defense, energy and commercial ties. And he says the alliance between the two countries has 'never been stronger.'


Poland has been pressing for the 3,000 U.S. troops now deployed in Poland on a rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence as it faces Russia's increased military activity in the region.

Trump says he's 'very seriously' considering a greater U.S. troop presence in Poland as he meets with that country's president at the White House.

Trump earlier told reporters in the Oval Office that Poland is 'willing to make a very major contribution to the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland.' Sitting alongside Poland's President Andrzej Duda, Trump says 'certainly it's something we will discuss.'

The push by Poland comes amid historic rival Russia's increased military activity.

Trump and Duda are also discussing trade and energy cooperation. The U.S. president is renewing his criticism of a planned new natural gas pipeline linking Germany with Russia. Trump says it's 'ridiculous' and bad for the German people.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...se-Poland.html

[WilliamA]

You gotta love him.