Poland's Sikorski Opposes EU Nuclear Acquisition, Defends NATO Sharing Structure

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski publicly opposed EU countries acquiring independent nuclear weapons in response to the NATO crisis, calling it 'a risky idea' that would trigger proliferation by other states. Sikorski argued that NATO's existing nuclear-sharing system — hosting US B61 tactical nuclear bombs at bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Turkey — already served deterrence effectively. The statement came in the context of French President Macron's March 2, 2026 announcement expanding France's arsenal and offering a 'forward deterrence' nuclear umbrella to European allies. Sikorski acknowledged that Britain and France's smaller arsenals differ significantly from the US nuclear stockpile, implicitly questioning whether a European nuclear guarantee could substitute for the American one. The Polish position highlighted tensions between France's autonomy push and eastern European states' preference for US-anchored deterrence.