Poland could ask for nuclear weapons access under Nato program

The scheme has been used by the likes of Germany, Canada and Turkey

A Trident Ii, Or D-5 Missile, launched from an Ohio-class submarine (Getty)

Poland’s deputy defence minister has said the country is considering asking Nato for access to nuclear weapons.

Tomasz Szatkowski said Poland’s Defence Ministry was discussing whether to ask for access to Nato's “nuclear-sharing” program, an initiative that allows non-nuclear members of the bloc to borrow nuclear weapons from the United States.

There are currently five Nato members taking part in the scheme – Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey and Germany – with Canada and Greece both housing American nuclear weapons until 1984 and 2001 respectively.

Of the 28 countries who are Nato members, only the US, France and United Kingdom have their own nuclear weapons, with the US the only country with enough weapons available to provide to allies.