Polish President Andrzej Duda has expressed his desire for Poland to be more involved in NATO’s nuclear planning, with the long-term goal of potentially hosting US tactical nuclear weapons.
In an interview with the Financial Times on March 13, 2025, Duda urged the United States to transfer nuclear weapons to Poland, arguing that NATO’s infrastructure should be adapted to reflect the alliance’s expanded eastern borders. Describing this as a “no-brainer,” the Polish president stated that not only was is the right time for such a move but it was also a matter of safety, as having these weapons positioned in the region would be more secure.
The planning in question refers to the NATO Nuclear Sharing agreement. It was established during the Cold War to ensure a rapid response to potential nuclear threats, mainly from the Soviet Union.
Under this agreement, several European NATO member states, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, have hosted US B61 nuclear gravity bombs at various bases. To participate in this program, countries must have combat aircraft capable of deploying these weapons. Notably, all of these countries, with the exception of Turkey, are expected to operate the F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. The Polish Air Force also flies the US-made fifth-generation fighter.
Duda emphasized that Russia had deployed nuclear weapons to Belarus without consulting any international partners, which highlighted the necessity for NATO to enhance its nuclear deterrence posture in the area.
In 2022, Belarus amended Article 18 of its Constitution, paving the way for Moscow to redeploy nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. The move was widely seen as a direct challenge to NATO’s eastern flank, particularly neighboring states like Poland and the Baltic nations.
A European nuclear future?
Duda’s proposal reflects ongoing discussions in Europe about nuclear deterrence and strategic autonomy, particularly in light of mounting nuclear threats by Russia and nascent tensions with the new Trump administration.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a political opponent of President Duda, noted days earlier that his government would “carefully” consider French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent proposal to extend France’s nuclear deterrent to other European Union nations.
Macron’s idea has gained traction following statements by Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has prioritized enhancing European security capabilities to reduce reliance on the United States.
“We need to have discussions with both the British and the French — the two European nuclear powers — about whether nuclear sharing or at least nuclear security from the United Kingdom and France could also apply to us,” Merz said, reinforcing growing European interest in nuclear cooperation beyond NATO’s traditional framework.
Unlike NATO’s Nuclear Sharing arrangement, which depends on U.S.-controlled B61 bombs, France’s nuclear forces operate entirely independently. All components are designed and manufactured to be ‘ITAR-free’, meaning they do not fall under U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This distinction ensures that France retains complete operational control over its nuclear capabilities without external restrictions, reinforcing its strategic autonomy within Europe.
