Key facts
- Poland does not want nuclear warheads on its territory, according to Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski.
- Poland aims to increase its permanent U.S. military presence and participate in NATO nuclear deterrence.
- A Pentagon review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe will present options by November 6.
- The review began in June and is expected to conclude in December.
- President Donald Trump previously expressed interest in sending additional troops to Poland.
Poland does not want nuclear warheads on its territory, Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski stated, emphasizing the country's desire to participate in NATO nuclear deterrence without hosting such weapons. This statement comes as the Pentagon conducts a review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, with options to be presented to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by November 6. The review, initiated in June and set to conclude in December, aims to assess U.S. basing decisions and encourage European allies to assume greater defense responsibilities.
Zalewski indicated Poland's interest in increasing the permanent U.S. military presence, referencing President Donald Trump's earlier remarks about potentially sending 5,000 American soldiers to Poland on a permanent basis. The Pentagon's internal 'Terms of Reference' outline the review's methodology, including criteria for evaluating U.S. basing decisions and assessing allies' defense spending and contributions to NATO crisis forces. Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's policy chief, is scheduled to brief NATO ambassadors on the review, though European officials express skepticism about whether the consultation is genuine or predetermined.
The review's scope encompasses access, basing, and overflight rights (ABO), as well as space, cyber, and intelligence architectures. It also evaluates allies' progress toward NATO spending pledges and their ability to fill gaps in NATO crisis forces following announced U.S. reductions.