Polish President Andrzej Duda has urged the U.S. to deploy nuclear weapons to Poland, arguing that NATO’s eastern flank needs strengthening to deter future Russian aggression.
Duda's remarks come amid growing fears in Poland and other European countries that a U.S.-brokered peace deal in Ukraine could leave Russia emboldened, especially if it is on terms favourable to Moscow.
Donald Trump has moved swiftly to end Russia's three-year-long war in Ukraine, with high-ranking U.S. officials engaging in peace talks with counterparts from Moscow and Kyiv.
However, Washington’s calls for concessions have raised concerns that a potential settlement could force Ukraine to surrender large parts of its occupied territory to Russia.
European leaders fear such a deal could embolden Moscow to pursue further aggression in the region.
Speaking to The Financial Times on Thursday, Duda echoed these concerns, saying: “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.”
He added that he recently discussed the proposal with Keith Kellogg, U.S. special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, who visited Warsaw last month.
Duda’s push to host nuclear arms revives an idea he previously pitched to former U.S. President Joe Biden in 2022, which was rejected at that time, amid concerns that deploying nuclear warheads close to Russia’s border could lead to further escalation.
Poland hosted Soviet nuclear weapons during the Cold War.
Duda pointed out that Russia had already taken a similar step by deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, a key ally in its invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus,” Duda said, adding: “They didn’t ask anyone’s permission.”
France’s ‘nuclear umbrella’
Duda echoed Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, in saying that Warsaw could alternatively seek better protection under French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend France’s “nuclear umbrella” to cover European allies.
The proposal made by Macron earlier this month came amid fears that the post-World War II security architecture, under which Europe has relied heavily on the U.S. for defense, could be nearing its end.
France and Britain are Europe’s only two nuclear powers.
However, Duda cast doubt on Tusk’s suggestion that Poland could develop its own nuclear arsenal, saying: “In order to have our own nuclear capability, I think it would take decades.”
He also rejected concerns about any scaling down of the U.S. military presence in Poland.
Duda said: “Concerns regarding the U.S. taking back their military presence from Poland are not justified. We are a credible ally for the U.S. and they also have their own strategic interests here.”
