Polish president urges US to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland: FT
3 Min Read
The Polish leader is seeking to revive a nuclear-sharing initiative that he previously proposed to the Biden administration in 2022 without success.
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Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (AP)
Polish President Andrzej Duda has urged the United States to deploy nuclear weapons on Polish soil as a deterrent against Russia—a request likely to be seen as highly provocative by Moscow, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Duda stated that it was “obvious” that President Donald Trump could relocate US nuclear warheads currently stored in Western Europe or the US to Poland. He revealed that he recently discussed this proposal with Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine.
“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,” Duda told FT.
“I think it’s not only that the time has come, but that it would be safer if those weapons were already here,” he added.
The Polish leader is seeking to revive a nuclear-sharing initiative that he previously proposed to the Biden administration in 2022 without success, the report noted.
During the Cold War, Poland’s Communist regime hosted Soviet nuclear warheads. However, placing such weapons close to Russia’s borders once again—this time under US control—would likely be perceived as a major threat by the Kremlin, according to FT.
While Duda acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with Trump, he pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2023 announcement that Moscow would move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, its ally in the war against Ukraine.
“Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus,” Duda remarked. “They didn’t ask anyone’s permission.”
FT suggested that Duda’s call for nuclear deployment reflects mounting concerns in Poland, shared by other regional allies, that Russia could emerge strengthened from potential peace negotiations with Ukraine brokered by Trump.
As Poland’s supreme military commander, Duda echoed Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s view that alternative security guarantees could come from French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend France’s “nuclear umbrella” to cover European allies.
However, Duda dismissed 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 expressed confidence that Trump would not reverse his commitment to maintaining US troops in Poland, which he reaffirmed during their recent meeting.
“Concerns regarding the US taking back their military presence from Poland are not justified. We are a credible ally for the US and they also have their own strategic interests here,” he asserted.
He further rejected claims that Trump was engaging in pro-Moscow negotiations to pressure Kiev into halting its fight.
“I think he’s applying instruments against Russia, even though it’s maybe not as loud and visible as those he’s using against Ukraine,” he said, adding, “Nobody has managed so far to stop this war, so let’s give President Trump a chance.”
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