Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signaled his country will eventually try to obtain its own nuclear weapons as Europe strengthens deterrence amid doubts over U.S. commitment to defending the continent.
“Poland takes nuclear security very seriously,” the prime minister said ahead of a weekly government meeting on Tuesday. “As our autonomous capabilities grow, we will strive to prepare Poland for the most autonomous actions possible in this matter in the future.”
Warsaw will not be “passive” as it also invests in nuclear power plants, according to the prime minister.
Tusk said on Monday that his country was in talks with France after President Emmanuel Macron offered to temporarily deploy nuclear-capable fighter jets to allied countries. The Polish prime minister said he had also been in contact with other European allies, including Sweden and Denmark, which expressed interest in the project.
The next round of talks is expected to take place at the nuclear energy summit in Paris on March 10, Tusk said.
The prime minister’s remarks suggest a rare alignment of views between him and President Karol Nawrocki, who said last month he was “a big supporter of Poland joining the nuclear project.”
Where they differ is in their choice of allies. Nawrocki has favored working closely with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump, while Tusk has increasingly gravitated toward closer European cooperation.
Still, as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since the 1960s, Poland is committed not to seek or acquire atomic weapons. Last year, Warsaw signed a treaty with France, opening the way toward Poland potentially receiving protection from French nuclear missiles.