Poland Asks Donald Trump for Nuclear Weapons

Polish President Andrzej Duda has urged the United States to deploy nuclear weapons in his country.

Duda told the Financial Times that NATO's borders moved eastwards in 1999, when Warsaw joined, so the bloc's nuclear infrastructure should follow suit.

When contacted for comment, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Newsweek that Washington's commitment to the defense of its allies was "unwavering."

Why It Matters

Since the start of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has made repeated nuclear threats and deployed atomic weapons to its closest ally, Belarus, which borders Poland.

Duda's suggestion is likely to be seen by Moscow as a provocation. However, it shows NATO's concern at the nuclear threat posed by Russia and the prospect that it might emerge stronger if there is a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

What To Know

Duda said in his interview that the "time has come" to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland and that it was "obvious" Trump could redeploy warheads currently stored in western Europe.

The Polish president said it was up to Trump to decide where to deploy U.S. nuclear weapons but added that Putin announced in 2023 that Moscow would move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.

"Russia did not even hesitate when they were relocating their nuclear weapons into Belarus," Duda told the Financial Times. "They didn't ask anyone's permission."

Duda also wants to revive a nuclear sharing project that he unsuccessfully presented to former President Joe Biden's administration in 2022.

Meanwhile, Duda also said that Poland could secure additional protection from French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to extend France's "nuclear umbrella."

But he rejected Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's suggestion that the country could develop its own nuclear arsenal. "In order to have our own nuclear capability, I think it would take decades," Duda said.

Separately, Andrew Futter, an expert in global nuclear politics at England's University of Leicester, told Newsweek in January that Trump will likely oversee an increase in the number of nuclear weapons.

He also believes Trump's comments about distancing the U.S. from NATO could pressure the United Kingdom—which, along with France, is Europe's only nuclear power—into becoming a guarantor for the Baltic states and Poland.

What People Are Saying

Polish President Andrzej Duda told the Financial Times: "The borders of NATO moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the NATO infrastructure east...it would be safer if those weapons were already here."

U.S. State Department told Newsweek: "U.S. commitment to the defense of our allies is unwavering, and we continue to consult closely with allies and partners to maintain and strengthen extended deterrence."

Andrew Futter, a politics professor at Leicester University, told Newsweek in January: "Trump is aware of just how dangerous these weapons are, and there may be a push from him to do a deal on arms control with Russia, and he may find a way to reduce nuclear risks in other ways."

What Happens Next

Discussions about Moscow's nuclear threat will continue within NATO, especially in light of a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has also expressed interest in a French proposal to expand its "nuclear umbrella" to cover Poland, but said that more information was required.

Update 03/13/25, 2:31 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the U.S. State Department.