Polish President Asks US To Place Nuclear Weapons In His Territory To Prevent Russian Aggression

JAKARTA - Polish President Andrzej Duda asked the US to place nuclear weapons into its territory as a deterrent to Russian aggression in the future,

President Andrzej Duda also told the Financial Times newspaper he had discussed the proposal recently with US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg.

Poland previously said it was ready to host US weapons under the nuclear weapons distribution program. Polish policymakers have recently also expressed interest in French President Emmanuel Macron's idea that the Paris nuclear umbrella could be expanded to his allies in Europe.

"NATO's borders shifted east in 1999, so 26 years later NATO infrastructure should also shift east. For me, this is clear," Duda said in an interview.

"It would be safer if those weapons were already in the country," added the duda.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a political opponent of the Duda, said on Thursday he thought it was better to discuss such issues secretly than through media interviews, although he believed the president had good intentions.

"We must formulate certain expectations. When we believe, or have reason to be convinced, the call or call will be heard and that the recipient, in this case the American government, President Trump, is ready for a positive response," Tusk told reporters.

Driven by Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine three years ago, Poland is now spending a higher proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense than any other NATO member, including the United States.

Last year, Polish defense spending reached 4.1% of GDP, according to NATO estimates, and plans to reach 4.7% this year. Duda has proposed capturing defense spending of at least 4% of GDP in the Polish constitution.