Poland says Europe needs Cold War-style deterrence for AI warfare

Poland has called for Europe to develop a deterrence model similar to the Cold War doctrine of mutually assured destruction in response to AI-powered warfare. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said the technology is becoming a force multiplier that could force a major rethink of the continent's shared security. He argued that the threat is no longer limited to ordinary cybercrime, but increasingly involves state-backed adversaries.

Gawkowski, who also oversees Poland's Ministry for Digital Affairs, said the number of cyberattacks in the country could rise tenfold in 2027 as frontier large language models become more capable and more widely available. He made the remarks during a conversation with journalists. He said the frequency of such incidents would only increase and described the situation as a digital war in Europe.

The minister said Poland is already on the front line of this threat, while other European countries may face the same risks later. He said the most serious danger comes from states rather than cybercriminals, which he said Poland is generally well equipped to handle. Gawkowski also warned that AI systems could be used to hack critical infrastructure and cause paralysis on a national scale.

His comments come after cyberattacks this week targeted dozens of supermarkets across Europe, disrupting refrigerators and freezers and causing millions in losses. Gawkowski described those incidents as only a prelude to more serious disruption. He said Europe must stop underestimating the scale of the threat and treat such attacks as a modern form of war rather than using softer language that can obscure their seriousness.

He also named Russia and Belarus among the state-level adversaries Europe should keep in mind, while saying countries must make clear that they will respond if attacked. Gawkowski said that without a credible signal of retaliation, Europe risks reaching a point where counterstrikes are no longer possible. He criticised the use of the term hybrid warfare, saying it can be used to avoid triggering NATO's Article 5.

The remarks reflect growing concern in Europe about how artificial intelligence could change the scale and speed of cyber conflict. Gawkowski's warning links the issue to wider debates over deterrence, resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure. What remains unclear is how quickly European governments will align on a common response, or whether they will adopt the more confrontational language he is urging.

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