Poland seeks to host US nuclear weapons, Washington refuses to comment
3 Min Read
As the Polish PM announces his intention to host US nuclear weapons, the White House National Security Council spokesperson says the US will not make any comment on the topic.
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Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks at the forum Debate on the Global Economy during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, Thursday, April 13, 2023. (AP)
In response to the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced, on Friday, Poland wanted to host US nuclear weapons.
"In connection with the fact that Russia intends to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus … we all appealing to the entire NATO to take part in the Nuclear Sharing program," Morawiecki said after the EU summit.
On his part, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council Spokesperson, stated that the US has nothing to say on the topic.
Kirby said, "I don't have any conversations of that sort to read out or speak to with you at all on that," adding, "We just don't talk about the deployment of nuclear systems one way or the other, so I am certainly not going to start doing that today."
Moreover, Kirby underscored that Washington made no indication that Moscow intended to put either tactical or strategic nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine or anywhere.
Minsk to set 'algorithm' for nuclear use in response to foreign attack
Belarus will establish a framework for the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to any external aggression on the country, President Alexander Lukashenko said during a ceremony on Tuesday to present shoulder boards to senior military officers, state news agency Belta reported.
Responding to a question on how Belarus will use its tactical nuclear weapons, which were previously deployed by Russia on condition that Moscow will remain in control of the atomic weapons, Lukashenko considered the weapons do not necessarily have to be in the country for them to be used to protect Belarus.
“If we take a deeper look at it, listen, do I need scrap in some storage facility? Well, these tactical weapons could be left in Russia. If necessary, we could transport them for another 500km for firing. Or an aircraft could be launched from Russia. And so on and so forth.”
“No one has ever fought against a nuclear power. The key task right now… [Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus Viktor] Gulevich is present here, by the way. He, the minister, and the KGB chairman have been instructed to determine the algorithm for using these weapons. The key is our ability to use it at time of need when we are attacked. Which means when the Union State [of Belarus and Russia] is attacked as people in Russia have already learned how to say,” the President said.
“But it is not the point. Let's assume (it is just an assumption) that we can use it upon Russia's authorization. These are idle speculations: we are being used and the rest. They are nonsense. It cannot be like that. These are our weapons and we will use them [when it is necessary],” Lukashenko stated.
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