Poland wants to break NATO's nuclear taboo: atomic bombs in central Europe

In the wake of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, two major armies have emerged in Europe. The Ukrainian army is currently facing the most significant military offensive in Europe since World War II, while the Polish army is preparing for Russia’s next potential attack. The decision to host nuclear weapons on Polish territory has become a topic of discussion and collaboration between Warsaw and Washington. While Moscow considers this a threat, Poland sees it as a necessary step to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and ensure its own security.

Interestingly, Poland’s consideration to host nuclear weapons is not new. During the Cold War, the country had Russian nuclear weapons on its territory as a result of the Vistula Program, a response to the positioning of nuclear weapons by the United States in Western Europe. Now, Poland sees Russia’s militarization of Kaliningrad and the movement of nuclear weapons to Belarus as potential threats to its own sovereignty.

The Kremlin has expressed its concerns about Poland hosting US nuclear weapons and has warned of taking necessary measures to guarantee its own security. Russia has been issuing veiled nuclear threats towards the West since the invasion of Ukraine began. In light of this, Poland has significantly strengthened its military presence to ensure its defense.

The idea of Poland hosting nuclear weapons within NATO’s framework has been on the table for some time. The country’s interest stems from the alleged deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad and Belarus. Breaking certain taboos, Poland wants to certify its F-35A Lightning II aircraft to deliver B61 free-fall nuclear bombs, potentially including them in NATO’s arsenal of dual-capable aircraft.

The discussions between Poland and the United States regarding nuclear deployment have gained momentum. President Duda has expressed willingness to host nuclear weapons, and a poll conducted in October 2022 showed that more than half of the Polish population supports this idea. In contrast, only a quarter of respondents expressed such support in 2016.

Currently, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia are the only nuclear powers on the European continent. Five European countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, are part of the NATO nuclear sharing agreement and host deployed US nuclear weapons on their territories. These countries have been training for years to operate NATO aircraft in the event of a war involving nuclear weapons.