Bold Declaration
In an interview with the "Financial Times", president Duda revealed that the proposal to deploy atomic weapons in Poland was handed over to Donald Trump's envoy, Keith Kellogg, who visited Warsaw in February.
The president stressed that after the NATO expansion to the east in 1999, 26 years later, the alliance's infrastructure should besides be moved in this direction. Duda stated that he considered it obvious, and added that not only the right minute had come, but that Poland's safety would besides be greater if atomic weapons were already on its territory.
Duda stressed that the decision belonged to the Donald Trump administration, recalling that Russia did not hesitate to decision its atomic weapons to Belarus.
Poland and atomic weapons in the past
It is worth noting that the president of Poland made a akin proposal to the administration of Joe Biden as early as 2022, but it was rejected for fear that the deployment of atomic weapons close the border with Russia could be considered a threat.
“Financial Times” besides reminds that Poland in the past stored atomic weapons erstwhile russian weapons were on its territory during the Cold War. Now, under Washington control, however, a akin step could be met with a strong reaction from Russia.
There are alternatives
President Duda besides suggested alternate solutions specified as backing Macron's proposal to extend the French "nuclear umbrella" to European allies. Responding to Donald Tusk's proposition to make his own atomic arsenal, Duda pointed to logistical difficulties and time-consumingness of this process. The president stated that for Poland to have its own atomic capabilities, it would take decades.
Duda besides expressed the belief that the United States would not retreat their forces from Poland, highlighting the strategical interests of the US. Furthermore, he rejected allegations that Trump was conducting talks with Moscow at the expense of Ukraine, pointing out that his approach to Russia was more discreet but inactive firm.
