Poland is prepared to host nuclear arms if NATO decides to deploy the weapons in response to Russia reinforcing its armaments in Belarus and Kaliningrad, President Andrzej Duda stated in an interview released on Monday.
As a NATO member and a strong supporter of Ukraine, Poland shares a border with both Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, an ally of Moscow.
"If our allies choose to station nuclear arms on our soil as part of nuclear sharing, to bolster NATO's eastern flank, we are prepared to do so," Duda mentioned in an interview published by the Fakt daily.
In response, Moscow cautioned that it would take measures to "ensure its security" if Warsaw proceeded with hosting the weapons.
Duda spoke to the Polish media following a visit to New York, where he engaged in discussions at the U.N. and deliberated on the war in Ukraine with former US president Donald Trump.
In March, he traveled to Washington, where he met with President Biden.
Discussions regarding nuclear cooperation between Poland and the United States have been ongoing "for some time," he revealed.
"I have mentioned this on several occasions. I have to confess that, when questioned about it, I confirmed our readiness," Duda expressed.
Reports indicate that there is a growing militarization of Kaliningrad by Russia. Recent developments have shown a movement of nuclear weapons to Belarus," a source stated.
The Kremlin has issued a warning, stating that it will retaliate if Poland decides to host nuclear weapons.
In June 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the transfer of tactical nuclear arms to Belarus, a country that shares borders with Ukraine and Poland.
At the latest NATO summit in Vilnius, member nations pledged to "take all necessary measures to ensure the credibility, effectiveness, safety, and security of the nuclear deterrent mission."
