Polish President Andrzej Duda recently expressed support for Poland benefiting simultaneously from NATO’s nuclear umbrella and France’s independent nuclear deterrence. According to Duda, these two options complement each other and contribute to strengthening Polish national security.
Duda Supports Concurrent Use of NATO and French Nuclear Guarantees
“I believe we can embrace both solutions. These two concepts are neither contradictory nor mutually exclusive,” President Duda stated on April 18, 2025, in an interview with Bloomberg.
Deploying US Nuclear Weapons to Strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank Defence
Previously, President Duda had called on the United States to deploy nuclear weapons on Polish territory. He argued that the North Atlantic Alliance’s infrastructure should reflect the reality of NATO’s expanded eastern borders. According to him, deploying US nuclear forces would significantly enhance the security of the entire region, especially considering Russia’s prior move in 2023 to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.
Tusk and Macron’s Initiative: France as a Guarantor of European Security?
Like President Duda, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has shown willingness to engage with French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend French nuclear deterrence to other European Union countries. This initiative resonates with the concerns of some European states regarding a potential reduction in US engagement on the European continent. Tusk stated that his government would “carefully” examine this proposal within the broader debate on strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.
France is the only EU member state possessing an independent nuclear arsenal, comprising approximately 290 nuclear warheads. A fundamental difference between French nuclear deterrence and NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement is that French forces are fully autonomous and independent of US technology or ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations). The delivery platform for French nuclear weapons includes, for example, the Dassault Rafale strategic aircraft, which is technologically and operationally entirely independent of the United States.
Strengthening the Polish Army: A Path Towards Regional Military Dominance?
In response to security threats from Russia, Poland is pursuing a significant modernisation and expansion of its armed forces. Prime Minister Tusk stated that the country’s ambitious goal is to build a 500,000-strong army, which would make Poland one of the militarily strongest countries in the European Union. Currently, the Polish army – with its 200,000 soldiers – is already among the largest within NATO, behind the US and Turkey.
In addition to increasing troop numbers, Poland has been taking steps since autumn 2022 to reinforce the defence of its eastern borders, including constructing defensive barriers against potential threats from Belarus and Russia.
Europe’s Strategic Autonomy and France’s Role in the Future of EU Defence
Increasing uncertainties about the future role of the United States in European defence are intensifying discussions about the importance of Europe’s strategic autonomy and self-reliance. In this context, France has long declared its readiness to discuss how its own nuclear arsenal could contribute to a more effective defence of the continent. It is against this backdrop that President Macron’s words about the willingness to share French nuclear deterrence assets at the European level gain significant importance.
Poland Seeks a Balanced Approach to Nuclear Security
Poland’s current strategic considerations clearly reflect the complex and dynamic nature of Europe’s security landscape in the face of Russian threats. The country is carefully weighing various options for enhancing its security – from cooperation with the United States within the NATO framework to the potential utilisation of French nuclear capabilities within the EU. The further development of this debate will primarily be determined by the practical steps taken by allies and the evolution of the current geopolitical situation.
Sources: AeroTime, Bloomberg, Nuclear Threat Initiative – France Profile
