Poland Eyes French Nuclear Shield Amid Russian Drills Europe's East
Poland has signaled its intent to become a formal part of NATO's nuclear sharing program and has not ruled out hosting French nuclear weapons on its territory. The statement by Polish President Karol Nawrocki comes amid rising security tensions with Russia and Belarus and represents Warsaw’s most explicit positioning to date in favor of a European nuclear deterrent on its soil.
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| Image From Exercise Iron Defenders 25. NATO |
In an interview with France’s LCI television aired September 16, Nawrocki stated, “Poland should be part of the nuclear sharing program. It should have its own nuclear capacities—energy, civil, and military.”
When asked directly if French nuclear weapons might one day be stationed in Poland, he said, “It may be too early to talk about it. But if you ask me whether Poland should be part of the nuclear sharing program, I would say ‘yes, of course.’”
‼️π΅π±π€πΊπ²π¨π¦πͺπΊ NATO troops have been granted permission to be stationed on Polish territory - Karol Nawrocki signed the resolution.
— Visioner (@visionergeo) September 14, 2025
The president's order is related to NATO's operation "Eastern Guardian," which started after Russian drone attacks on Poland.
NATO troops have… pic.twitter.com/GPznAnq0Z0
The remarks coincided with the conclusion of Zapad-2025, a massive Russian-Belarusian military exercise involving 100,000 troops, 10,000 weapon systems, and rehearsals for nuclear deployment scenarios, including the use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system.
Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the drills in full military gear and announced the upcoming deployment of nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus, where Russian warheads are already stationed.
France and Poland had earlier formalized their strategic alignment through the Nancy Treaty--a landmark May 2025 security pact signed by then-President Donald Tusk and French President Emmanuel Macron.
π¨π©πͺπͺπΈπ΅π± BREAKING - To counter Russian threats and in response to the large-scale “Zapad-2025” military exercises taking place in Belarus, Spain and Germany have decided to deploy additional troops to Poland.
— Visioner (@visionergeo) September 16, 2025
See the latest updates with us: @visionergeo pic.twitter.com/4F1rg513ae
While the treaty does not explicitly reference nuclear weapons, it includes a mutual defense clause and calls for enhanced cooperation in defense, technology, and nuclear energy. Macron has since confirmed his openness to extending France’s nuclear deterrence to European allies threatened by Russian aggression.
The UK’s commitment to helping @NATO defend every inch of allied territory is unshakeable.@RoyalAirForce Typhoons will join allies and fly air defence missions over Poland as part of Eastern Sentry following Russia's reckless and dangerous drone incursion into Poland last week. pic.twitter.com/wwdtFt1QqD
— Ministry of Defence π¬π§ (@DefenceHQ) September 15, 2025
Poland's nuclear stance also follows a direct violation of its airspace by Russian drones on September 9. The incident prompted the scrambling of F-16s and led Warsaw to seal its border with Belarus, cutting off a €25 billion annual China-EU freight corridor.
Foreign Minister RadosΕaw Sikorski rejected Beijing’s appeal to reopen the route, citing security concerns. The border closure has disrupted supply chains for major Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, with sea routes slower and air freight up to 30% more expensive.
NATO has already launched Operation Eastern Sentry on September 12. Fighter jets and air defense systems from France, Germany, Denmark, and the UK are now actively patrolling Polish skies. British RAF Typhoons have joined the effort, and Poland is rapidly deploying WLKM 12.7 mm Gatling guns for drone defense, marking a significant enhancement of its anti-air capabilities.
‼️π΅π± BREAKING - Poland will rapidly field WLKM 4-barrel 12.7 mm anti-aircraft Gatling guns after an incursion of Russian drones exposed weaknesses in the Polish air-defense shield.
— Visioner (@visionergeo) September 17, 2025
The WLKM is essentially the Polish analogue of the American Minigun. It was first unveiled in 2017… pic.twitter.com/hPWadEsPeR
President Nawrocki’s call for nuclear integration is the culmination of a broader strategic pivot. During his recent state visit to Berlin, he demanded €1.3 trillion in WWII reparations from Germany--a move rebuffed by Berlin as legally settled, though it underscores Poland’s intention to build an independent defense posture, potentially funded through historical claims.
While Germany highlighted its €9 billion annual aid to Ukraine as evidence of its commitment to regional stability, Polish officials argue that deeper military autonomy is necessary. The political divide widened after an Austrian activist's remarks about Polish-German borders sparked a nationalist backlash in Poland, reinforcing long-standing mistrust despite calls for European unity.
☝️ We reiterate that Russia has no interest in heightening tensions with Poland or NATO.
— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) September 16, 2025
On the contrary, it is Kiev and its sponsors that have every reason to fuel militaristic anti-Russian hysteria and who have repeatedly engaged in provocations for that purpose.… pic.twitter.com/EAQXrbCHKs
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has claimed NATO is “already at war” with Russia, citing drone incursions in Poland and Romania, and increasing Western military presence in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly offered to train NATO countries in drone interception, pointing to Ukraine’s experience handling hundreds of drone strikes per day.
Poland’s evolving doctrine--nuclear sharing, drone defense, border control, and reparations--signals a break from post-Cold War assumptions. In the face of Russian escalation and uncertain Western resolve, Warsaw is laying the groundwork not just for deterrence, but for decisive autonomy in Europe’s new security architecture.