Nuclear weapons in the NATO region
Nuclear deterrence: Poland is ready – but unwilling to deploy nuclear bombs
Jacek Siewira, Security Adviser to Polish President Duda
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Berlin. Poland can envision a greater contribution to NATO’s nuclear deterrent — even without deploying nuclear weapons on its territory. “Poland will be ready to expand its participation and cooperation within NATO’s nuclear deterrence framework and take responsibility,” Jacek Siewira, a defense adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda, told a German press agency in an interview. “Deploying nuclear weapons is different,” he added.
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A few days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Poland. NATO countries such as the US and Germany responded quietly. The United States has stationed nuclear weapons in several European countries, including Germany, for decades. Up to 20 bombs are said to be stored at Büchel Air Base in the Rhineland-Palatinate Eifel. Tornado fighter jets are also stationed there that can deploy weapons in an emergency.
In NATO jargon, this is called “nuclear sharing”. So far, Poland has only been involved in consultations, for example in NATO’s Nuclear Planning Committee, which meets in secret. Seivira did not say how he envisions a strong participation. However, he pointed out that nuclear sharing would also include aircraft that could carry “special weapons”.
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In October last year, Polish President Duda announced his fundamental interest in greater participation in NATO’s nuclear deterrent. “We have spoken to American leaders about whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The topic remains open,” Duda told the Polish newspaper Gazeta Polska at the time. At the time, it was understood that stationing nuclear weapons on Polish territory was an option for him.
Asked whether Poland should feel safe with nuclear weapons on its territory, Siviera said: “It’s not about feelings, it’s about calculations. Europe already has a lot of nuclear weapons under nuclear sharing.
Apart from Germany, US nuclear weapons are said to be stored in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Turkey. According to expert estimates, there should be a total of 100 more. The bombs have an explosive force of up to 50 kilotons – 13 times more than the first US atomic bomb that completely destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. Two other NATO countries, Great Britain and France, have their own nuclear weapons.
RND/dpa
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