Failure of Nuclear Ambitions? US Firmly Opposes Poland's Nuclear Armament Plans

The debate on European nuclear security has entered a new, turbulent phase following declarations from Washington and Paris. The key event was a speech by Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, who during a debate at the Council on Foreign Relations unequivocally rejected the concept of Poland or Germany building their own nuclear arsenals. The US official emphasized that such actions would be contrary to the interests of NATO stability and could lead to an uncontrolled arms race in the region. This statement is interpreted as a clear signal to Warsaw that the United States does not intend to share nuclear technology or support autonomous military programs in Central Europe. Simultaneously, French President Emmanuel Macron is intensifying efforts to build a "European nuclear pillar." The French initiative envisions an evolution of the current strategy, which focused almost exclusively on protecting French territory, towards collective deterrence encompassing the entire European Union. The Élysée Palace suggests that allies could participate in strategic exercises and co-decide on the security architecture under the French umbrella. However, this vision raises skepticism not only in the US but also among Scandinavian countries. Finland officially announced it is keeping its distance from Macron's proposal, arguing that guarantees within NATO remain the priority and that haste in such fundamental matters is not advisable. France is the only European Union country possessing its own nuclear weapons following the UK's exit from the bloc. Since the 1960s, Paris has built strategic independence based on the Force de frappe, which often led to tensions in relations with the US and NATO. The reaction of the Russian Federation was immediate and fits into a confrontational rhetoric. The Kremlin labeled plans to modernize and extend French deterrence as "destabilizing" to global security. Moscow is using this situation to exert diplomatic pressure, demanding France's inclusion in talks on limiting strategic arms, which has so far been the exclusive domain of the US and Russia. Experts point out that this is a classic attempt to drive a wedge between Western powers and weaken European cohesion. Meanwhile, in Poland, despite the Pentagon's cool reaction, analyses are ongoing regarding alternative paths to strengthen defense, including participation in the Nuclear Sharing program, although US officials remain reluctant to any changes to the current status quo.