US, Polish presidents to talk security at upcoming White House meeting: official
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
29.08.2018 09:37
Security will be one on the agenda during upcoming talks between the US and Polish presidents, Poland’s defence minister has said after the White House on Tuesday confirmed that the heads of states would meet in Washington.
Mariusz Błaszczak. Photo: mswia.gov.plPhoto: mswia.gov.pl
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told Polish Radio that “security, Polish-American military ties, will be the subject of talks”.
He added that, specifically, Polish President Andrzej Duda and his US counterpart Donald Trump would discuss “weapons for the Polish Army and permanent US army bases in Poland”.
Earlier this month, Błaszczak said it was “highly likely” that the US will set up permanent army bases in Poland, though a time frame was not given, while the Pentagon is expected to give US Congress a feasibility report.
Amid fears of Russian aggression following Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014, Błaszczak has previously said that permanent US army bases would provide a further security guarantee for Poland.
Meanwhile, Poland’s government has in the past pledged to increase military spending and modernise its defence, though many of the talks for new weapons in recent years have been fruitless.
Washington on Tuesday confirmed that Duda and Trump would meet at the White House on September 18.
It will be Duda’s first official meeting with the US president. (vb)
Source: IAR