About 10,000 American troops are currently stationed in Poland, mainly on a rotating basis. The U.S. Defense Department stated it had nothing new to announce regarding a permanent military base, contradicting reports that the United States has expressed interest in establishing one. According to Gdelt, the Polish government has approved steps to allow a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poles are doing everything in their power to have a permanent U.S. military base in Poland and that the decision on such a base will always be on the side of the Americans. According to KyivIndependent, Kosiniak-Kamysz said the United States responded positively to Poland's proposal to establish a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Poland is best-positioned to take on more American forces, according to Stripes.com. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda made a similar argument during a joint news conference with Nawrocki, according to Stripes.com. Poland and Germany signed a new defense agreement to strengthen European military cooperation amid heightened tensions with Russia and growing uncertainty over U.S. engagement in Europe, according to WashingtonTimes.com. Kosiniak-Kamysz said, 'We are not forgetting the past,' during a press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, according to WashingtonTimes.com. Germany seeks partners as it moves to revitalize its military, the Bundeswehr, after decades of neglect, and has ambitions to build the strongest conventional army on NATO’s European side, according to WashingtonTimes.com.