If the NATO allies ask for it, Poland could strengthen the defense of the eastern part of the alliance in this way, Duda said in an interview with the newspaper “Fakt” published on Monday. The German federal government said that Poland’s offer was generally viewed favorably. Russia threatened countermeasures.
“If our friends decide to put nuclear weapons on our territory within the framework of nuclear sharing to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, we are ready to do so,” Duda said in a paper interview. news
Poland as an important supporter of Ukraine
NATO member Poland is one of Ukraine’s most important allies and straddles both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus. As president, Duda is commander-in-chief of the Polish armed forces; the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, belongs to a different political camp than Duda.
Duda, who is currently in Canada, discussed the war in Ukraine with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during his visit to the United States last week. The Polish head of state had already met Trump’s successor Joe Biden in March.
The question of placing nuclear weapons in Poland has been discussed between Poland and the US for “a while,” Duda said. “I have raised this topic several times already.”
“Russia is increasingly militarizing the Kaliningrad region,” Duda continued. He also mentioned the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which Moscow will move there in the summer of 2023.
Russia will analyze the situation
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the deployment of nuclear weapons in Poland: “Of course military representatives will analyze the situation and at least take all necessary measures in response to our security promise.”
In Berlin, deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann responded to the question of whether the federal government supported a greater role for Poland in nuclear deterrence within NATO: “So basically, we indeed happy with the role that Poland has within the European Union or within NATO.” The federal government is very aware that “Poland contributes a lot to this .”
Close cooperation is good for the alliance
German Defense Ministry spokesman Arne Collatz said: “The more and the closer you work together, the better it is for the whole alliance.”
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons. At the July 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, members of the alliance pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of “the nuclear deterrence mission, including further upgrading of their nuclear capabilities.” and update the planning process.
