Tusk says nuclear weapons issues should be 'handled with discretion'
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that discussions regarding nuclear weapons should be conducted privately rather than through media interviews, in response to President Andrzej Duda's appeal for the United States to deploy nuclear warheads to Poland.
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, Duda called on the US to position nuclear weapons on Polish soil as a means of deterring potential Russian aggression.
In response, Tusk expressed to the media his preference for such requests to be made public only when "we are confident or have reasons to believe that such appeals or calls will be heeded, and that the recipients, in this case, the American administration and President Donald Trump, are prepared to respond positively.
"These kinds of matters are best addressed discreetly, not through press interviews, although there won't be any particular harm from this situation," Tusk said. "I commend President Duda's intentions, as I believe he acted out of goodwill and a commitment to enhancing Poland's security."
Tomasz Siemoniak also commented on Duda's appeal, telling the private broadcaster TVN24 that the willingness of the US was essential for initiating discussions about nuclear weapons.
"There is nothing worse than proposing a sensible idea only to find out three days later that it has been dismissed, as this undermines our position," he said. "These matters should be handled behind closed doors, and you need to ensure that a clear path forward is established."
The minister added that, given the current uncertainty surrounding the US military presence in Europe, "we should first engage in dialogue with the Americans before making any public announcements." (PAP)
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