Poland’s president wants access to France’s nuclear shield

Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country should seek the protection of France’s nuclear deterrent against a potential Russian threat. He said these words in an interview with Bloomberg in Warsaw.

At the same time, Duda continued to call for the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Poland.

“I believe we can make both decisions. These two ideas (American and French nuclear weapons—Ed.) are neither contradictory nor mutually exclusive,” Duda said.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament in March that Poland could gain access to nuclear weapons and said he was in “serious talks” about a proposal from French President Emmanuel Macron to use Paris’ nuclear capabilities to defend European allies.

Speaking less than four months before he leaves office, Duda defended his efforts, saying that NATO’s role is to confront “aggressive behavior on the part of Russia.” In 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had deployed some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, worrying allies on its eastern flank.

“How is NATO going to respond to this? My answer is very simple. We invite you to extend the nuclear exchange to our territory,” Duda said.

Meanwhile, Poland’s acceptance of Macron’s proposal may face several obstacles, as France’s nuclear shield does not depend on NATO security guarantees that apply to Poland. Warsaw has also pledged not to acquire nuclear weapons as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Paris and Warsaw are currently finalizing a bilateral treaty that will cover, among other things, defense, nuclear energy, and scientific cooperation.

In the context of a possible withdrawal of US troops from Europe, Macron stated he was ready to offer France’s “nuclear umbrella” to protect other European states.