Joining Nuclear Sharing programme would boost Poland’s security - president
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has told the Fakt daily that the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Poland as part of NATO's Nuclear Sharing programme would benefit the country’s national security.
"Our experience as a nation shows that Poland never uses its weapons to attack other countries, not when it comes to its neighbours, nor other independent states," Nawrocki told the newspaper in an interview published on Thursday.
He added, however, that "having nuclear weapons and joining the Nuclear Sharing programme would be a good move to ensure the security of Poles."
"I feel obliged to undertake all actions that could enhance Poland's national security,” he said.
Nawrocki also contended that all of the wars which Poland fought over the ages, especially in the 20th century, "were fought in defence - in defence of our independence and in defence of values that were important to us..."
"Therefore, the potential nuclear arsenal for Poland would not signify an increased risk of conflict or aggression, but rather an increase in the security of the Polish state," he said.
Nuclear Sharing is a NATO programme that forms part of the Alliance's nuclear deterrence policy. It allows nuclear warheads to be made available to member states that do not have their own nuclear weapons. Since November 2009, American nuclear weapons have been stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey as part of this initiative. (PAP)
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