Poland and the United States have signed an agreement that will allow the U.S. Air Force to station its troops permanently in Poland.

The agreement allows for the deployment of U.S. aircraft and troops to begin in 2013.

The deal was signed Monday in Warsaw by Poland's Defense Minister Bogdan Klich and U.S. Ambassador Lee Feinstein.

According to the agreement, the deployment of U.S. Air Force troops will focus on servicing U.S. fighter and transport planes, whose pilots will train with Polish pilots.

Poland has been a NATO member since 1999 and is a close U.S. ally.