United States plans to deploy about 1,000 more soldiers in Poland.

On October 4, 2019, during an official ceremony in Poland, the United States has announced the permanent presence of a U.S. Army Division Forward Headquarters in Poland following an agreement signed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Poland President Andrzej Duda in New York City, on September 23, 2019.

The Polish Army’s 12th Mechanized Division leads a multinational force in the Hohenfels Training Area against an opposing force as part of U.S. Army Europe’s training exercise Combined Resolve X, from April 9 – May 12. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The ceremony was attended by numerous high ranking officials from both countries, but the most notable were the keynote speakers, the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak, U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher and Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe for Army National Guard, Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard. Each of them came together to celebrate the official change of First Infantry Division Mission Command Element to First Infantry Division (Forward), signifying the United States increased military presence in Poland on Oct. 4, 2019, Poznan, Poland.

The celebration comes just two weeks after U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Poland President Andrzej Duda signed an agreement to increase U.S. presence in Poland. The agreement was signed on September 23, 2019, in New York City on national television.

By celebrating the United States and Poland’s decision to increase the U.S. military presence in Poland, it reinforces the strong strategic partnership that the United States and Poland have built, especially in recent years.

Earlier this year, The U.S. President Donald Trump and Poland President Andrzej Duda signed a declaration increasing the number of U.S. troops on rotation in Poland. The purpose of First Infantry Division Forward is to command the rotational forces coming through Poland and is also responsible for coordinating with Polish Armed Forces to identify opportunities to train and conduct exercises together.

Currently, around 4,500 military personnel of the United States are deployed in Poland and already operate out of numerous sites across the country. The U.S. plans to add about 1,000 more service members in Poland, but details on where those troops will be deployed are still getting worked out.