Moscow Warns of Military Response if US Nuclear Weapons Deployed in Poland
Moscow has warned that US nuclear weapons in Poland, if hosted under NATO's nuclear-sharing scheme, would be considered a priority military target.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov made this statement in response to Poland's potential plans to host nuclear arms.
President Andrzej Duda of Poland has expressed his country's willingness to host these weapons.
Russia views NATO's expansion of its nuclear-sharing arrangement as deeply destabilizing and threatening to its security.
A senior Polish diplomat has warned against the permanent stationing of American nuclear weapons in Poland, stating that it would not increase security but rather make Polish military sites targets.
Polish President Duda has requested the US to consider stationing part of its nuclear arsenal in Poland to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.
However, the diplomat cautioned against such a move, as Polish military bases would become priority targets.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland responded to President Duda's remarks about considering hosting US nuclear weapons by downplaying their significance and asking for clarification.
Tusk stated that Poland has no specific plans to host foreign nukes.
It is public knowledge that the US stores nuclear gravity bombs in five non-nuclear NATO countries, including Poland, namely Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.