Poland Renews Call for U.S. Nuclear Presence
Polish President Andrzej Duda has reiterated a request for the United States to deploy nuclear weapons on Poland’s territory, citing Russia’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine as a pressing concern.
The proposal, aired in a Thursday Financial Times interview, aims to counter Moscow’s aggression with a visible deterrent.
This isn’t Duda’s first attempt—he made a similar pitch to the Biden administration in 2022, which went unanswered. Now, he’s directing the appeal to the Trump administration, pointing to Russia’s recent moves.
“Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus,” Duda told the Financial Times, referencing actions that began in 2023, following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“They didn’t ask anyone’s permission.” The comment highlights Poland’s unease with its neighbor’s unilateral steps.
Trump’s Ceasefire Efforts Complicate the Picture
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital about President Donald Trump’s position on Duda’s request. The timing coincides with U.S. efforts this week to broker a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, now over three years old since Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine has accepted the proposal, pending Russia’s approval, but Moscow has yet to commit. Placing U.S. nuclear weapons in Poland—a country bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine—could be seen as provocative by the Kremlin, potentially undermining the delicate ceasefire talks.
Duda’s international affairs advisor, Wojciech Kolarski, reinforced the request in a Thursday interview with Poland’s RMF FM radio.
He noted Poland’s strategic position as a NATO member adjacent to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Ukraine, and Belarus, arguing that nuclear deterrence is a key factor in ensuring Warsaw’s security.
France Emerges as a Potential Alternative
If the U.S. declines again, Poland has another option within NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated discussions about extending France’s nuclear deterrence to other EU nations, amid concerns that the U.S. might reduce its military presence in Europe or prove less dependable against Russia.
While it’s unclear if this includes physically sharing nuclear weapons, Poland has reportedly engaged in talks with France on the matter.
Russia has labeled France’s reconsideration of its nuclear strategy “extremely confrontational.”
However, the concept builds on historical precedent—during the Cold War, the U.S. extended its nuclear umbrella over NATO allies to deter threats from nuclear powers like Russia, China, or North Korea. France, the EU’s sole nuclear-armed state, holds NATO’s third-largest nuclear arsenal, trailing only the U.S. and the U.K.
Regional Dynamics and Historical Context
Duda’s request reflects Poland’s frontline status in a tense region, where Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Belarus have heightened security concerns. The Trump administration’s ceasefire push adds a layer of complexity, balancing diplomacy with deterrence.
Meanwhile, Macron’s proposal signals a possible shift in Europe’s defense posture, rooted in NATO’s Cold War framework but adapted to today’s challenges. As these discussions unfold, Poland’s pursuit of nuclear reinforcement remains a focal point in an evolving transatlantic security landscape.
