The decision regarding a potential extension of the Nuclear Sharing program to NATO’s eastern flank must be collectively made by all allies, emphasized Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
His remarks follow Polish President Andrzej Duda’s statement made during an interview with the daily tabloid Fakt, in which he suggested Poland’s readiness to host U.S. nuclear missiles under the Nuclear Sharing program.
“If there was such a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing, also on our territory, to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, then we are ready for it,” Duda said in the interview.
However, Polish government officials seemed surprised by Duda’s one-sided declaration on the matter.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the importance of “diligence, confidentiality, determination, and action by the allies” in addressing this issue.
“I support the idea of enhancing Poland’s security,” he said.
“Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that this matter involves certain clauses, and engaging in public discussions regarding this issue does not contribute positively,” Kosiniak-Kamysz remarked, adding that this situation understandably creates cautiousness among NATO partners.
The Defense Minister said that Poland’s potential participation in the Nuclear Sharing programme had not been discussed during Tuesday’s visit to Poland with Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, and Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general.
Nuclear sharing is a principle within NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy that enables member nations without their own nuclear weapons to be involved in planning for the potential use of nuclear weapons by the bloc.
Starting from 2009, the United States has stationed their nuclear weapons in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey as part of this program.
“If there was such a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing, also on our territory, to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, then we are ready for it,” Duda said in the interview.
However, Polish government officials seemed surprised by Duda’s one-sided declaration on the matter.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the importance of “diligence, confidentiality, determination, and action by the allies” in addressing this issue.
“I support the idea of enhancing Poland’s security,” he said.
“Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that this matter involves certain clauses, and engaging in public discussions regarding this issue does not contribute positively,” Kosiniak-Kamysz remarked, adding that this situation understandably creates cautiousness among NATO partners.
The Defense Minister said that Poland’s potential participation in the Nuclear Sharing programme had not been discussed during Tuesday’s visit to Poland with Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, and Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general.
Nuclear sharing is a principle within NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy that enables member nations without their own nuclear weapons to be involved in planning for the potential use of nuclear weapons by the bloc.
Starting from 2009, the United States has stationed their nuclear weapons in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey as part of this program.
Source: TVP World, PAP
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