Polish president backs nuclear deterrence amid Russia threat

Monday 16 February 2026 - 15:34

By: Dakir Madiha

Polish president backs nuclear deterrence amid Russia threat

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed at the Munich Security Conference on Friday that he has begun confidential talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on developing a European approach to nuclear deterrence. The disclosure marks the first formal engagement between Europe’s two largest economies on sharing the continent’s independent nuclear capabilities.

“I have initiated confidential discussions with the French president on European nuclear deterrence,” Merz said, stressing that any initiative would remain strictly within NATO’s nuclear sharing framework and would not create differentiated security zones across Europe.

The proposed arrangement would center on France’s nuclear arsenal, currently the only such capability within the European Union since the United Kingdom’s departure. France maintains air launched cruise missiles carried by Rafale fighter jets and submarine launched ballistic missiles deployed on nuclear powered submarines.

Macron described the discussions as part of a broader strategy to strengthen European defense. He said articulating nuclear deterrence within a comprehensive security framework would help create greater strategic alignment between Germany and France. The French president indicated that further details would be presented in the coming weeks and reaffirmed that any decision to deploy French nuclear weapons would remain solely under the authority of the French head of state.

Germany, bound by the 1990 Two Plus Four Treaty not to possess or control nuclear weapons, has traditionally relied on the US nuclear umbrella through NATO. Merz reiterated Berlin’s continued commitment to those legal obligations.

Interest in the initiative has grown in Eastern Europe. Latvia and Estonia signaled openness to participating in discussions. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said nuclear deterrence could present new opportunities, while emphasizing that any steps must comply with international commitments. Estonia’s deputy defense minister, Tuuli Duneton, said her country would not rule out joining talks at an early stage.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki went further in remarks to Polsat News on Sunday, declaring himself a strong supporter of Poland joining a nuclear project. He cited Poland’s proximity to the war in Ukraine and what he described as Russia’s aggressive and imperial posture toward Poland as justification. Warsaw signed a treaty with France in 2025 that Prime Minister Donald Tusk said could pave the way for sharing French nuclear missile protection.

The debate unfolds amid mounting European concern over the reliability of US security guarantees under President Donald Trump. Research presented ahead of the Munich conference concluded that Europeans can no longer outsource their nuclear deterrence thinking to Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure allies during the conference but stopped short of endorsing European nuclear initiatives. Officials indicated that Washington does not support what they termed friendly proliferation. Merz characterized the emerging European effort not as a departure from NATO, but as the creation of a stronger and more autonomous European pillar within the alliance.