U.S. expanding military presence in Poland

The United States is making progress towards an enlarged military presence in Poland, but any build-up of forces will likely trigger a Russian response, according to U.S.-based intelligence firm Stratfor


Current personnel: Average of about 4,500 U.S. troops on rotation in Poland as part of NATO force

Main bases: Include U.S. Army headquarters at Poznan, armoured brigade combat team deployment
at Żagań, and missile defence site at Redzikowo. U.S. also contributes forces to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup at Orzysz

Reinforcements: Deal with Poland could see 1,000 to 1,500 extra U.S. troops deployed on non-permanent basis. Forces could be dispersed across existing bases rather than building single large facility

Equipment: NATO plans to set up storage depot at Powidz to house U.S. armoured vehicles, ammunition and weapons to arm full brigade


NATO members
Sites for potential military expansion:
U.S. / NATO
Russia

FINLAND
Baltic Sea
ESTONIA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
SWEDEN
Kaliningrad (Russia)
GERMANY
Redzikowo
Poznan
Powidz
Orzysz
Żagań
Warsaw
POLAND
CZECH REP.
SLOVAKIA
AUSTRIA
HUNGARY
ITALY
CROATIA
ROMANIA
RUSSIA
Moscow
BELARUS Key Russian defence partner
Vileyka
Minsk
Lida
Hantsavichy
UKRAINE
MOLDOVA
Area controlled by pro-Russian rebels
Crimea: Under Russian control

200km 125 miles


Sources: Reuters, Stratfor, U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Poland 
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