The Prime Minister of Poland is having serious conversations regarding nuclear weapons in a bid to deter Putin.
Donald Tusk gave a speech to the Polish parliament yesterday (7 March) as he said his government was ‘carefully examining’ France’s proposal in being included in its nuclear umbrella.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently offered to extend the nation’s nuclear protection to its European allies as it looks to have military on the ground in Ukraine.
And as neighbouring Ukraine’s war with Russia is ongoing, it seems Tusk is gearing up for Poland to be prepared for the same possibility.
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During his speech, he announced that a military training plan is under way for all men in the country.
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Tusk explained work is happening to ‘prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in Poland’.
“We will try to have a model ready by the end of this year so that every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war, so that this reserve is comparable and adequate to the potential threats,” he said.
He expressed a ‘need’ for an army of half a million in the country, including the reservists.
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Regarding the nuclear umbrella offer from France, Tusk said: “I would like to know first of all in detail what it means in terms of the authority over these weapons.”
The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine was invaded after getting rid of its own nuclear arsenal and added that it is desired for Warsaw to have its own.
"We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons ... this is a race for security, not for war," he said.
He added that he wants Poland to increase its spending on defence, which has already been increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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When it comes to having all men trained for the military, the leader said that women may also undergo the training, but ‘war is still to a greater extent the domain of men.'
Of increasing the army, he said: “It seems if we organise things wisely, and I'm talking constantly with the Minister of Defence, we will have to use several courses of action. That means the reservists, but also intensive training to make those who do not go into the army fully-fledged and competent soldiers during a conflict.”
Jess Battison