A European country that borders Russia could be expanding its nuclear capabilities at it seeks further protection for its adversaries. Poland has repeatedly stressed the need to advance its defence systems, including by adopting nuclear weapons.
Both Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda have called for military expansion, particularly in the face of the threat posed by Russia. Earlier this month, Mr Tusk said he was “taking seriously” dsicussions with France about being protected by its nuclear weapons.
He added: “We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons … This is a race for security, not for war.”
This comes under Poland’s large scale drive to increase the size of its army, including by making every man undergo military training.
Mr Tusk said: “By the end of the year, we want to have a model ready so that every adult male in Poland is trained for war, and so that this reserve is adequate for possible threats.”
Polish President Duda also called for the US to base nuclear weapons in his country as a “deterrent” to Vladimir Putin earlier this month. He said the move would make Poland safer as Russia currently presents a very real threat, calling it as aggressive as the Soviet Union.
Though this could be viewed by Putin as a provocation, it would be in response to Russia storing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Poland.
Mr Duda told the BBC: “It’s the same Russia that’s attacking Ukraine today, who is an aggressor, who is murdering civilians, who is bombing down civilian settlements. And it’s moving its nuclear weapons from the depths of Russia to Belarus.
“This defensive tactic is a vital response to Russia’s behaviour, relocating nuclear weapons in the NATO area. Poland is ready to host this nuclear weapon.”
The president, also the commander-in-chief of the Polish armed forces, said US nuclear weapons would make his country safer by strengthening Washington’s commitment to its security.
He said: “Every strategic kind of infrastructure, American and NATO infrastructure, which we have on our soil is strengthening the inclination of the US and the North Atlantic Alliance to defend this territory.”
