Poland Backs Dual Nuclear Defense Plans

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Poland could support both U.S. and French nuclear defense initiatives, calling them “neither contradictory nor mutually exclusive.” His remarks follow Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proposal in March to expand the “nuclear umbrella” to Poland, including discussions with France about using its nuclear arsenal for European defense, CE Report quotes PAP

According to Bloomberg, Poland’s interest in nuclear sharing complements its major military buildup, with defense spending at 4.7% of GDP. The country also receives EU backing to strengthen borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

Duda emphasized NATO’s role in countering Russian aggression, referencing Moscow’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He argued NATO should respond by including Poland in its Nuclear Sharing program, which allows U.S. allies to host American nuclear arms.

France, with about 300 nuclear warheads, is the EU’s only nuclear power and one of three in NATO alongside the U.S. and UK.