Poland’s Duda Renews Push for U.S. Nuclear Arms to Counter Russia

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda is pressing the U.S. to station nuclear weapons on Polish soil. He sees it as a vital deterrent against Russia’s growing aggression near NATO’s eastern flank. The call reflects rising fears in Warsaw as Moscow flexes its military might.

Duda’s plea comes amid Russia’s war in Ukraine now in its third year. Poland shares a border with both nations making it a frontline state in this geopolitical standoff. He argues nuclear arms would signal unyielding strength to Vladimir Putin’s regime.

The U.S. already deploys nuclear weapons in five NATO countries under sharing deals. Poland wants in on this arrangement to bolster its security against Russian threats. NATO’s top brass have yet to greenlight such a move leaving it in diplomatic limbo.

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine flipped Poland’s stance from cautious to assertive. Duda says Moscow’s nuclear saber-rattling demands a firm counterpunch not just words. Critics warn it could escalate tensions into a Cold War-style arms race.

Polish leaders frame this as a shield for democracy against authoritarian reach. They point to Russia’s hybrid tactics like cyberattacks and border provocations. Public support in Poland leans heavily toward hosting U.S. warheads for protection.

The Biden administration has stayed mum on Duda’s latest push. Analysts say Washington weighs the risk of provoking Moscow against reassuring allies. NATO’s unity hangs in the balance as eastern members demand more muscle on their turf.

Russia blasted the idea vowing retaliation if Poland goes nuclear. Putin’s allies claim it violates past arms control pacts though the Kremlin flouts them too. The standoff deepens a trust gap that diplomacy struggles to bridge.

Duda’s stance signals Poland’s resolve to shape its fate not just endure it. It could redraw Europe’s security map if the U.S. agrees. For now Warsaw waits as global powers grapple with a world edging closer to the nuclear brink.