On Friday, speaking in Parliament, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would seek access to nuclear weapons. This dramatic military expansion is a result of fears across Europe that US President Donald Trump is aligning with Kremlin. Warsaw perceives that the US is turning its back on America’s traditional Western alliances—a shift that Poland regards as an existential threat.
Now Poland is looking to expand its army to 500,000 troops to counter the perceived Russian threat. Tusk has also stated that Poland “is talking seriously” with France about being protected by the French nuclear umbrella. President Emmanuel Macron has previously opened the possibility for other European nations to discuss how France’s nuclear deterrent can protect the continent.
The Starlink Controversy
Tusk took to X to call on allies to respect each other and not be arrogant, in what appeared to be a response to a heated exchange between Polish and US officials over Starlink. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski of “making things up” and being ungrateful after Sikorski suggested Ukraine may need an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink service if it becomes unreliable.
Poland pays $50 million per year for Ukraine to use Starlink’s services, which provide crucial internet connectivity for Kyiv and its military. Rubio dismissed concerns, saying, “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink.” He added, “Say thank you because without Starlink, Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.”
Sikorski responded sarcastically, “Thank you, Marco, for confirming that the brave soldiers of Ukraine can count on the vital internet service provided jointly by the US and Poland.” Musk, in turn, told Sikorski to “be quiet” and called him a “small man.”
Poland’s plan of military buildup comes as a response to signals from Washington. Trump’s public admonishment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US decision to halt arms aid to Ukraine, and his suggestion that NATO members failing to meet spending benchmarks may not receive US military support have all contributed to Polish fear.
Tusk’s assertion that Poland must be prepared to act independently reveals a departure from Poland’s traditional reliance on the US as its primary security partner.
Tusk emphasized that Poland cannot restrict itself to conventional weapons, stating, “We must be aware that Poland must reach for the most modern capabilities also related to nuclear weapons and modern unconventional weapons… this is a race for security, not for war.” He pointed to Ukraine as an example, arguing that Kyiv’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal left it vulnerable to Russian attack.
Poland’s Military Expansion
Tusk also announced plans for a massive increase in conventional military forces. “By the end of the year, we want to have a model ready so that every adult male in Poland is trained for war, and so that this reserve is adequate for possible threats,” he said.
Currently, the Polish military stands at about 200,000 troops, making it the third-largest in NATO after the US and Turkey, and the largest among EU members. Tusk noted that Ukraine’s military numbers around 800,000, while Russia’s stands at 1.3 million.
“Every healthy man should want to train to be able to defend the homeland in case of need,” he said, adding that women would also be able to volunteer. However, he clarified that this was not a return to conscription, which Poland abolished in 2008.
The growing fear of Russia, coupled with concerns over the reliability of the US as an ally, is prompting a revolution in Poland’s military planning. “Poles will not adopt the philosophy that we are completely powerless and helpless if President Trump has decided to adjust policy,” Tusk said.
He repeated that Poland remains committed to maintaining close ties with the US and NATO but acknowledged that Poland must take more responsibility for its own defence. Poland is already NATO’s top spender, with defence expenditure accounting for 4.7% of GDP this year. Tusk told Parliament that spending should increase to 5%—a figure Trump himself has touted as necessary for NATO members. What Poland has done is what the US president was asking the NATO members, but the way Polish leaders have reacted on social media was unacceptable to the Trump administration.
Poland is also putting billions into acquiring advanced weaponry, including Abrams tanks, Patriot missile defence systems, and F-35 fighter jets from the US, as well as K2 Black Panther tanks, K9A1 Thunder howitzers, Homar-K rocket systems, and jet trainers from South Korea. These decisions show that the era of militarization in Europe is back.
Cracks in the US-Poland Alliance
Poland has traditionally built its security around its close ties with the US. The presence of 10,000 American soldiers stationed in Poland, as well as Poland’s consistent purchases of US weapons, underscore this relationship. However, recent events have shaken Warsaw’s confidence. Trump’s rebuke of Zelenskyy, the end of US arms aid to Ukraine, and his remarks suggesting that NATO obligations may not be upheld for allies failing to spend enough on defense have fueled concerns.
He insisted that Europe has the economic potential to stand up to Russia. “Our deficit has been the lack of the will to act, having no confidence, and sometimes even cowardice. But Russia will be helpless against a united Europe,” Tusk said.
He further pointed out the strategic imbalance: “It’s striking but it’s true. Right now, 500 million Europeans are begging 300 million Americans for protection from 140 million Russians who have been unable to overcome 50 million Ukrainians for three years.”
Tusk also announced that Poland would take steps to withdraw from international treaties banning the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. However, despite the military buildup, he made it clear that Polish troops would not be sent to Ukraine to police any peace agreement—something France and the UK are considering. “Poland’s job is to guard its eastern border, which is also the border of NATO and the European Union,” he stated.
However, what Europeans or Poland is creating is a perceived fear of Russia in the region. But, our reader must understand that the NATO expansion threatened Russian security by reaching near its border. If NATO had not been expended, Russia would not have attacked Ukraine. Russia is already fighting a long war, which has brought war fatigue to the Russian military and political establishment. Hence, the Russian actions in Ukraine look for survival, but the perception that Europe and Poland are creating is that Russia is the threat. Rather, the militarization and statements from Tusk on acquiring nuclear wweaponsmay end up creating fissures in Europe that may damage the region for a long time to come.
