The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed by Secretary Popeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak in Warsaw on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
The agreement will see American troops redeployed in Poland from Germany, increasing the number of US troops in Poland to about 5,500. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that according to the agreement, the number could quickly be increased to 20,000 if a threat justified it.
Since 2018 in particular, Polish politicians have been pushing for much more, at one point arguing that a full US division should be permanently based in the country, with Warsaw shouldering at least some of the cost. The plan was dubbed “Fort Trump”. Even though the new agreement does not include Fort Trump, it sends a clear signal about President Trump’s preferences. Strong Poland, with relatively strong defense spending, is the type of ally the President likes President Trump already announced the pull-out of some US forces from Germany, which, he believes, does not carry its share of the defense burden. “We’re reducing the roces because they’re not paying their bills; It’s very simple,” said the President. All NATO members agreed that defense spending should reach 2% of GDP by 2024. Poland has met the target, while Germany, along with other countries, has yet to meet it.
