Mattis Thanks Polish Counterpart For Offer To Host US Military Base - Pentagon

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) US Secretary of Defense James Mattis thanked Polish Defense Minister Marius Blaszczak during a meeting for offering to host a US military base in the country, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White said in a press release.

Last week, Blaszczak told Polish Radio in an interview that he would discuss with Mattis and US lawmakers the benefits of having a permanent US military base in Poland.

"The secretary [Mattis] thanked Minister Blaszczak for his country's offer for increased US force posture options in Poland," White said on Tuesday.

Mattis also thanked Blaszczak for Poland's central role for US deterrence efforts in Central Europe and hosting up to 4,500 American troops on a rotational basis, White said.

In September, US President Donald Trump told reporters the United States was considering establishing a permanent military base in Poland. Trump said Warsaw agreed to pay more than $2 billion towards the cost of the base, which Polish President Andrzej Duda has suggested calling Fort Trump.