WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on Wednesday to highlight the deepening of the military-to-military relationship between the two sides, said the White House on Tuesday.
Warsaw confirmed on Monday that negotiations on a political agreement between Poland and the United States on increasing U.S. military presence in Poland have been concluded. It's been reported that the number of U.S. troops in Poland is expected to increase to 6,000 from current up to 4,500.
Regarding the possible troop increase, a senior White House official told reporters at a background call that "a significant announcement" will be made on Wednesday and the decision will help enhance "the defense and deterrence posture in Europe."
Duda's visit comes about one month after Trump's meeting at the White House with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban in May, which the anonymous official described as "part of a pattern of high-level engagement that the President (Trump) has undertaken this year with leaders from Central Europe."
Also on Tuesday, U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan held talks with his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak at the Pentagon, with the two eyeing enhancing bilateral defense ties, said the U.S. Defense Department.
The United States is considering permanently stationing troops in Poland. Currently, U.S. troops have a rotational presence in the country.
Poland, a NATO member, has repeatedly required permanent presence of U.S. troops on its territory. Moscow has voiced concern about Warsaw's intention, saying NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders would destabilize Europe.
