A survey reveals 50.9% of Poles support Poland obtaining nuclear weapons amid heightened security concerns.
Current Nuclear Landscape
Nine countries possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, Great Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea. Additionally, under the Nuclear Sharing program, American nuclear warheads are stored in five NATO countries: Germany, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Public Opinion Survey Results
An IBRiS survey found that 50.9% of respondents believe Poland should acquire nuclear weapons, while 38.6% disagreed. The poll showed 20.9% chose “definitely yes,” 30% selected “rather yes,” 23.5% picked “rather no,” and 15.1% chose “definitely no.” Additionally, 10.5% had no opinion on the matter.
Support by Political Affiliation
Support for nuclear weapons varies significantly among different party voters. The Confederation party shows the highest support at 79%, followed by PiS at 65%. The idea also has backing from 54% of New Left voters, 40% of Third Way supporters, and 35% of Civic Coalition voters. The survey was conducted by telephone on February 27-28 with a representative sample of 1,073 people.
Polish Official Stance
President Karol Nawrocki expressed strong support for Poland joining a nuclear project on February 15, stating, “We are a country located right next to the border of a military conflict. It is well known what the aggressive, imperial attitude of the Russian Federation towards Poland is.”
European Nuclear Deterrence Initiative
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on March 2 that Poland is conducting talks with France and other European allies about an advanced nuclear deterrence program. “We are arming ourselves with friends so that enemies do not dare to attack us,” Tusk stated. Earlier that day, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that eight countries, including Poland, had agreed to participate in France’s proposed advanced nuclear deterrence initiative.
