Duda Calls for US Nukes in Poland as Russia Moves Warheads to Belarus

Polish President Andrzej Duda has urged the United States to station nuclear weapons in Poland, arguing that such a move is necessary to deter Russia, according to an interview published in the Financial Times on March 13.

Duda suggested that US President Donald Trump could relocate nuclear warheads currently stored in Western Europe or the United States to Polish territory. He confirmed that he recently discussed this proposal with Trump adviser Keith Kellogg.

"NATO’s borders moved eastward in 1999, so after 26 years, its infrastructure should move eastward as well. To me, this is obvious. I believe it is not just the right time—it would be safer if these weapons were already here,” Duda stated.

The Polish president hopes to revive a nuclear-sharing initiative he first proposed to the Biden administration in 2022. While Duda acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with Trump, he also pointed out that Russian leader Vladimir Putin moved tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in 2023 without hesitation.

“Russia didn’t even hesitate when relocating its nuclear weapons to Belarus. They didn’t ask anyone for permission,” Duda said.

Duda’s push for US nuclear weapons reflects growing concerns in Poland and across the region that a peace deal between Trump and Russia could embolden the Kremlin.

This is not the first time Duda has called for the deployment of American nuclear weapons to Poland—he previously raised the issue with then-President Joe Biden following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also expressed support for nuclear deterrence, albeit in a more measured tone. He has confirmed that Poland is engaged in serious discussions with France regarding President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for a European “nuclear umbrella.”

Earlier, Poland’s Ministry of the Interior and Administration announced plans to distribute a crisis preparedness guide to every household by the end of the year.

Developed in collaboration with Poland’s Ministry of National Defense and the Government Security Center, the brochure will provide instructions on surviving for 72 hours during emergencies such as power outages, natural disasters, and war.

“For three days, all citizens, every household, will be able to survive on their own,” said the deputy director of the Polish Department of Population Protection and Crisis Management, Robert Klonowski.