The issue of nuclear weapons, potentially being deployed on Polish territory, has resurfaced. This proposal is, of course, framed as a deterrent against possible aggression from Russia. The discussion has been reignited by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, in an interview with the Financial Times, as well as by ongoing efforts to establish peace in Ukraine.
NATO’s Borders and the Shift in Infrastructure
“The borders of Nato moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the Nato infrastructure east. For me this is obvious,”
explained President Duda in the interview.
The Polish head of state further stated that his proposal regarding the stationing of nuclear weapons in Poland had been communicated to Keith Kellogg, the special envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump on Ukrainian affairs.
Diplomatic Engagements and U.S. Reactions
In February, Kellogg visited Warsaw, where he met with President Duda. Reflecting on their meeting, Kellogg remarked:
“I had a great meeting today with President Andrzej Duda of Poland. A true friend of America and freedom. Thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership and friendship.”
According to President Duda, “Not only is the time right, but it would also be safer if these weapons were already here.”He expressed his hope for an expansion of NATO’s Nuclear Sharing initiative in Europe, though this idea was not met with approval from the Biden administration.
Understanding the Concept of Nuclear Sharing
Nuclear Sharing is a key element of NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy. It allows member states that do not possess their own nuclear arsenal to participate in NATO’s nuclear planning. Specifically, it enables these countries’ armed forces to access nuclear weapons under certain conditions.
Among NATO’s three nuclear powers—France, the United Kingdom, and the United States—only the United States has engaged in Nuclear Sharing. As of November 2009, U.S. nuclear weapons have been stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.
“Russia Did Not Hesitate”
In this context, President Duda pointed to Belarus as an example, stating that the decision regarding nuclear deployment rests with the Trump administration. However, he emphasized that “Russia did not hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus.”
It is worth recalling that Minsk received nuclear warheads as early as 2023. “They didn’t ask anyone’s permission,” Duda noted.
When asked about the possibility of Poland developing its own nuclear arsenal, President Duda acknowledged that “such a process would take decades.”
Historical Context: Poland and Nuclear Sharing
It is also important to recall that in the autumn of 2022—several months after the outbreak of war in Ukraine—President Duda gave an interview to Gazeta Polska. In his conversation with journalist Tomasz Sakiewicz, he publicly raised the issue of Poland’s potential participation in Nuclear Sharing for the first time.
“The main issue is that we do not possess nuclear weapons. There are no indications that Poland will have them under its control in the foreseeable future. However, there is always the potential for participation in the Nuclear Sharing program. We have discussed with American leaders whether the United States would consider such a possibility. The topic remains open,”
President Duda stated.