Polish President Andrzej Duda says that while no decision has been made on whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
“I don’t know anything about such decisions, so speaking responsibly, I say there are no such decisions in place, but we declare that we are prepared,” Duda told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive interview broadcast on Sunday.
Duda spoke in Polish through a translator.
According to NATO, the alliance’s nuclear sharing agreements ensure that all member states share the risk but also benefit from “collective defense” by strategically hosting nuclear weapons in certain countries. The United States, the United Kingdom, and France are all nuclear weapons states in their own right, while Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkiye, and Italy host nuclear weapons provided by the United States.
All of NATO also shares responsibility for decision-making when it comes to nuclear missions and deterrence.
Now that Russia’s war against Ukraine has surpassed two years, Duda said that if NATO collectively decides to bolster defenses on its eastern flank by having Poland host nuclear weapons, his country is prepared.
“This is not any kind of new information,” Duda said. “In fact, for many years we have repeated that if NATO allies make the decision to deploy within NATO or expand the nuclear exchange program to include Poland, then we are ready, because we understand that it is about strengthening security of Europe.”
Asked if that is closer to happening, Duda said alliance members have not reached a verdict.
“We raised this issue in conversations with allies,” he said. “There are no decisions on this… I want to deny all claims that some decisions have been made on this, I have not been involved in making any decisions.”
Duda said there is no doubt that if Russian President Vladimir Putin manages to conquer Ukraine, he will continue his offensive and invade other countries.
He repeated that Poland is “ready” to host nuclear weapons, “because we can see that Russia is once again dangerous, that Russia is deploying its nuclear weapons.”
Putin warned last month that Russia is prepared to deploy its nuclear arsenal.
“And it is not the West that is provoking Russia, it is not NATO that is provoking Russia, on the contrary,” he added. “It is Russia that is provoking the West.”
Duda said NATO members are responding “exclusively” to Russia’s aggression.
In his interview, Duda also spoke about Russia’s war against Ukraine and the risk of “insatiable” Russian imperialism, his relationship with former US President Donald Trump, NATO’s defense spending target and his openness to buying gas. natural Canadian liquefied, if applicable. market.
You can watch Duda’s full interview on CTV’s Question Period, Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, and in the video player at the top of this article.
With files from CTV’s Question Period Senior Producer Stephanie Ha