US Creates Nuclear Trip Wire in Poland

A Wall Street Journal article noted: “The U.S. Air Force officially stationed a small detachment of soldiers at a base here in central Poland on Friday, part of Washington’s bid to reassure an important European ally without jeopardizing ties with Russia. … The move was touted by Poland’s government, which has for years asked for a U.S. military presence to protect the former Eastern Bloc country from a resurgent Russia.”

While the article claims that this was done “without jeopardizing ties with Russia,” Russia will almost surely see it in a threatening light, especially given the previously mentioned observation by former Vice Adm. Ulrich Weisser, head of the policy and planning staff in the German Ministry of Defense from 1992 to 1998 that: “Moscow also feels provoked by the behavior of a number of newer NATO member states in central and Eastern Europe. Poland and the Baltic states use every opportunity to make provocative digs at Russia; they feel themselves protected by NATO and backed by the U.S.” Should such provocations lead to armed conflict, as in Georgia in 2008, the American troops could serve as a form of “nuclear trip wire” – which is why the move was desired by Poland, but adds to the nuclear risk.

Martin Hellman