Poland has rejected the possibility of hosting US nuclear weapons on its soil, stating it wants to participate in Nato’s nuclear deterrence without having American warheads stationed in the country.Poland wants to participate in Nato’s nuclear deterrence but does not want US nuclear weapons deployed on its territory, deputy defence minister Pawel Zalewski said at Nato headquarters in Brussels.“We want to participate in Nato nuclear deterrence, which does not mean having nuclear warheads on our territory,” he said.Zalewski said Poland was interested in increasing the permanent US military presence in the country under Washington’s Force Posture Review. He also referred to US President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks about potentially sending additional American troops to Poland.Washington announced a six-month review of US troop deployments in Europe in June. According to a document seen by Reuters, the review will prepare at least four sets of options for Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth by November 6, well ahead of a December deadline.“We treat President Trump’s decision as a tool to improve European security, aligned with the Pentagon’s concept of Nato 3.0,” Zalewski said, adding that the US would continue to play an important role in supporting European armed forces.Trump pledged in May to send an additional 5,000 US troops to Poland permanently, as Washington pushed European Nato members to take greater responsibility for the alliance’s conventional defence.What is Nato’s nuclear-sharing arrangement?Nato’s nuclear-sharing arrangement allows member countries to participate in the alliance’s nuclear deterrence without possessing nuclear weapons themselves.Under the arrangement, the US retains custody and control of its nuclear weapons deployed in Europe, while allied countries provide aircraft, bases, infrastructure and other support for the nuclear mission.The arrangement dates back to the Cold War. The US committed nuclear weapons to Nato in 1953, with the first American tactical nuclear weapons arriving in Europe in 1954. Nato later established its Nuclear Planning Group in 1966, giving member countries a formal role in discussions and planning on nuclear policy.Nuclear sharing was already in place when negotiations on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty began in the 1960s. The NPT entered into force in 1970, and Nato says its nuclear-sharing arrangements comply with the treaty because the US retains full custody and control of its weapons.Which Nato countries host US nuclear weapons?The US has nuclear weapons deployed at bases in five Nato member countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.The weapons remain under US custody and control.They are believed to be B61 nuclear bombs, stored at multiple air bases across these countries. Allied forces maintain aircraft and infrastructure that can support the nuclear mission under Nato’s nuclear-sharing arrangement.Poland’s position means it is seeking a role in Nato’s broader nuclear deterrence framework without joining the group of Nato members where US nuclear weapons are believed to be physically stationed.
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