Poland open to US nuclear weapons deployment
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski is open to the stationing of American nuclear weapons in his country. “If the Americans asked us to store US nuclear weapons in Poland, we would be open to that. It would significantly increase deterrence towards Moscow,” said the national conservative politician of “Welt am Sonntag”. At the moment this question does not arise, “but that may change soon”. The initiative should come from the Americans, he said. But in principle it makes sense to extend nuclear sharing to NATO’s eastern flank.
A good five weeks ago, Russia launched a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine, which also borders Poland.
According to Kaczynski, Poland would also welcome it if the Americans were to withdraw their presence in Europe because of Russia’s increasing aggressiveness from the current 100,000 soldiers to 150,000 soldiers would. In his view, 75,000 of these soldiers should be permanently stationed on the eastern flank, i.e. on the borders with Russia, and 50,000 soldiers alone in the Baltic States and in Poland. He said: “Soldiers from the nuclear power America are the strongest deterrents for Russia to attack NATO countries and give us the most security.”
All in all, NATO should do more in the Ukraine war, said Kaczynski. “First, conduct a peacekeeping mission. Of course, that would only work with the consent of Ukraine. Secondly, the NATO countries should finally deliver the weapons that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy is strenuously asking for.”
More than 2.4 million refugees from Ukraine are currently living in Poland – more than in any other country in the European Union. The EU has imposed unprecedented sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine, as have other Western states. (dpa)