The President of Poland believes that the increasingly aggressive threat from Russia forces Warsaw to consider a radical step: the development of its own nuclear weapons.
In an interview given to Polsat News, the Polish leader Karol Nawrocki stated that his country “is on the brink of an armed conflict” and can no longer afford to ignore the “aggressive and imperial” attitude of the Russian Federation towards Poland.
“I am a strong supporter of Poland’s accession to the nuclear project,” Nawrocki affirmed, suggesting that Warsaw should strengthen its own deterrence potential.
However, the president could not specify a clear timetable for a possible initiation of the program, nor whether it will actually become a reality.
The head of state emphasized that any initiative should respect international norms. Poland is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which further complicates a possible strategic change of direction.
The statements from Warsaw come in a tense European context. The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, recently announced that he is in discussions with France regarding the possibility of a European nuclear defense. Merz advocated for a rethinking of transatlantic relations, against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s second term.
Asked if the United States would allow Poland to develop nuclear weapons, Nawrocki gave an evasive answer:
“I don’t know, but we need to act in a certain direction to be able to start the work.”
For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Europe is openly discussing the strengthening of its own nuclear shield, as confidence in the American “umbrella” is no longer as solid. In an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, the idea of a European strategic autonomy no longer seems like a simple theoretical exercise, but an option analyzed at the highest level.