NATO ally pushes 'Fort Trump' US military base as Russian helicopter penetrates airspace

Nawrocki said that he was confident Warsaw and Washington would reach a deal on the base, which Poland has sought as part of its effort to secure a long-term American troop presence and boost defenses against Russia.

The proposal dates back to 2018, when Nawrocki's predecessor, President Andrzej Duda, suggested naming a permanent U.S. military installation in Poland "Fort Trump" as part of an effort to secure a lasting American military presence in the country.

The urgency behind Warsaw's push this month was underscored within hours of Nawrocki's remarks in New York, when a Russian Mi-8 military helicopter briefly penetrated Polish airspace from Russia's Kaliningrad region.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also mentioned the issue during a briefing with Polish media following his address to the U.N. Security Council in New York on Wednesday.

The Russian aircraft remained in Polish airspace for 42 seconds before exiting.

Polish radar systems tracked the helicopter throughout the incursion, prompting fighter aircraft to scramble while ground-based air defense units were placed on standby.

The incident adds urgency to Poland's push for a permanent U.S. military base. Nawrocki acknowledged that specific deadlines have not yet been established because administrative and financial details are unresolved.

"It's hard for me to give specific dates, but I think this matter has been definitively confirmed, because President Trump is known for keeping his word," Nawrocki said.

Nawrocki also called the establishment of the base "only a matter of time" and seemed optimistic that construction could be completed before Trump's term ends in 2029.

Wziątek said the installation would likely host between 3,000 and 5,000 U.S. troops.

Poland ultimately hopes to host "around 15,000" American troops, building on the roughly 10,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in the country, largely on a rotational basis.

"Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made towards establishing a US Army base in Poland," Trump said Sept. 17.