Trump Meets Polish President Duda, May Move 2000 US Troops From Germany To Poland

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House on Wednesday, amid Polish concerns over its security due to Russia.

Trump said he would be willing to move 2000 U.S. troops that are already stationed in Germany to Poland. "There would be no additional troops to Europe. We would be moving them from another location," Trump said at the meeting.

Poland might also allow the United States to open up a military base on its territory with it rumored to be called "Fort Trump." Trump however said that that agreement has not yet been finalized.

When pressed on concerns whether democracy is backsliding in Poland, Trump said that the Polish economy would not be doing as well as it is if that were the case.

After the meeting, the two leaders watched as F-35s flew above them in celebration of Duda's visit and Poland's willingness to buy the F-35 aircraft in an agreement with the United States. This was the first White House flyover ever for the F-35.

Trump also said during the meeting that he would have individual meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 meeting which will be held in Osaka, Japan between June 28 and 29.

Andrzej Duda began his term in 2015 as President of Poland. Duda is a member of the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS). The party supports a social safety net, but opposes gay marriage and further migration into Poland. The party also takes a strong stance against Russian aggression, particularly after the 2014 Russian takeover of the Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine.

The human rights watchdog Freedom House has warned that reforms made by the PiS are a threat to Polish democracy and independent media.

Trump and Duda have a friendly relationship due to their similar stances on topics like migration. In July 2017, Trump delivered a speech in Poland where he called for greater unity in the light of terrorism. He also called for a stronger economic relationship between the two countries.