Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said in an interview with PAP that he is “not afraid of the transatlantic alliance”. The more Europe invests in defense, the more seriously and with greater respect America will treat us, he emphasized. He also assessed that decisions regarding nuclear weapons should be made within NATO.
Kosiniak-Kamysz was asked on Thursday in an interview with PAP, AFP and dpa whether the European Union should become more involved in security and defense. The head of the Ministry of National Defense noted that “the North Atlantic Alliance has a military mission, and the EU has a development and economic mission.” – I would not mix these two orders – he emphasized.
Transatlantic relations and the role of Germany
– Armies must be united with NATO. NATO is a defense alliance and there should be command and strategic elements related to operational activities, and in the European Union – economy, development and security, especially supply chains, arms production and financing of national armies – he said. He added that the EU can play a significant role in strengthening the European arms industry, thanks to loans and “grants to build national armies.”
Transatlantic relations and the role of Germany – I do not accept the idea of competition between the EU and NATO: the EU complements NATO, NATO complements the EU in capabilities – he emphasized.
He also expressed his belief that he was not worried about the future of transatlantic relations, especially after changes in Germany's arms policy. – President Trump's call was read and changed (German) armament policy by (German) Chancellor Friedrich Merz very clearly. I would like Spain to read this call; I would like the Italians and the French to read this call to increase military spending even more strongly, just like Poland, like Germany, like the Scandinavian countries, which are our very important partners here, he said.
– The more Europe invests, the more seriously and with greater respect America will treat us in these areas – he argued.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense also declared that he was not concerned about the safety of technologies used in the Polish army that come from allied countries. – Everyone is asking about different codes and whether anyone will disable our access. We are in the alliance to exchange and enable each other to use these capabilities, he said. – But the more we do, especially in this area, autonomously based on our scientists and our achievements, the more we are authors and not consumers – the better – he added.
Nuclear weapons in Poland?
Kosiniak-Kamysz was also asked what he meant when he said on Monday that he was in favor of Poland developing its own research capabilities in the field of nuclear weapons and whether he wanted Poland to have its own nuclear weapons. The head of the Ministry of National Defense emphasized that Poland in this respect is “bound by various types of conventions” and “this topic is not a topic for great discussion.”
– This is always a matter of great responsibility and action within the framework of allied capabilities and cooperation – emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz. He added, however, that Polish science must develop in the field of nuclear technology.
The Minister of National Defense also stated that he “reads President (of France) Emmanuel Macron's invitation to the nuclear umbrella.” – We have Nuclear Sharing resulting from American and NATO decisions, so Poland should find its place in these formats and is ready to cooperate with all NATO countries – he emphasized. He stressed that allied decisions must be made in this regard.
Allied cooperation and the security debate
When asked whether Poland would accept the possession of nuclear weapons by Germany, he replied that Germany – like Poland – is obliged to comply with certain conventions and that all decisions regarding “nuclear impact should be presented within the framework of the North Atlantic Alliance”, and not through unilateral or bilateral decisions.
President Karol Nawrocki stated on Sunday in the “Rymanowski Breakfast” program on Polsat News that he was a “great supporter” of Poland joining the nuclear project and admitted that “Poland should consider developing its own nuclear weapons.” When asked about US consent and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, he replied: “I don't know, but we need to move in such a direction so that we can start work.” He cited the ongoing armed conflict in the neighborhood and Russia's imperial policy as the reason.
Germany does not have its own nuclear weapons and is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Their nuclear security is based on the NATO Nuclear Sharing mechanism, of which the United States is a key pillar. As part of it, American nuclear warheads are deployed in several European countries, including Germany.
French President Emmanuel Macron initiated a debate in the spring of 2025 on extending French nuclear protection to European Union countries, which could be a response to a possible weakening of American security guarantees.
Interview by Mikołaj Małecki (PAP)
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