Poland ready to host NATO nuclear weapons amid Russia’s threats

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced this at a press conference in Brussels.

"In connection with the fact that Russia intends to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, we further call on the entire NATO to participate in the nuclear sharing program," the head of the government said.

At the same time, he emphasized that the final decision will depend on the American partners.

"We declare our readiness to act quickly in this regard. We do not want to sit idly by while Putin increases all kinds of threats," added Morawiecki.

Nuclear sharing is a NATO program that is part of the Alliance's nuclear deterrence policy. It provides nuclear warheads to member states that do not possess nuclear weapons of their own. Since November 2009, within the framework of nuclear sharing, US nuclear weapons have been placed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

Russia's nuclear weapons

On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a storage facility for Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be built in Belarus by July. Belarus' self-proclaimed president Lukashenko also mentioned that Belarus could have strategic nuclear weapons if needed.

In April, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the transfer of Iskanders, which can carry nuclear weapons, to Belarus. Towards the end of May, the Belarusian army conducted exercises involving the use of Iskander missiles.

On June 14, Lukashenko claimed that nuclear weapons from Russia started to arrive in Belarus, but clarified it would only be used if Belarus faced a direct threat.

Also, on June 16, Russian leader Vladimir Putin  announced that they had transferred some of their nuclear arsenal to Belarus, with the rest to follow by the end of the year.

Later, military analysts from the Institute for the Study of War said that Kremlin’s statements confirm Russia's military control over Belarus.

However, on June 20, the Chief of Ukrainian Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, denied the information suggesting that Russia had moved nuclear warheads to Belarus.

Tactical nuclear weapons are small nuclear warheads and delivery systems designed for use on the battlefield or for a limited strike. They are designed to destroy enemy targets in a specific area without causing massive radioactive fallout. Strategic nuclear weapons have a greater radius of destruction and are delivered by cruise and ballistic missiles and aircraft.