WARSAW, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Talks between representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Polish Defense Ministry will not likely result in establishing an American military base in Poland this year, a Polish official said Wednesday.
"For sure, we will be dealing with an increase in the American presence in Poland, which will be gradual," Pawel Soloch, head of the Polish National Security Bureau, told portal onet.pl.
"In the near future, if decisions are made about the following year, these will not be decisions concerning building a big base," Soloch said. "At the moment, we are talking about a gradual increase in the American presence."
Soloch added that the two sides are discussing building "military installations" in Poland but the nature of these -- when it comes to size, purpose and being temporary or permanent -- was currently being negotiated.
On Tuesday, in an interview with Polish radio station RMF 24, former U.S. ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull said he did not see big support in the U.S. Congress for the idea of a permanent base in Poland.
Polish leaders have been lobbying for the establishment of a permanent U.S. military base in Poland, even offering to cover some of the cost.
