NATO announces nuclear weapons exercise

deterrence against Russia

NATO announces nuclear weapons exercise

In Italy, NATO will be training for the horror scenario of a nuclear war from next Tuesday. It’s about credible deterrence – especially in one direction.

The NATO This Tuesday begins its annual maneuver to defend the alliance’s territory with nuclear weapons. According to information from the alliance headquarters, armed forces from 17 countries will take part in the exercise “Steadfast Noon”. The approximately one and a half week long exercise is being hosted this year Italy.

There were initially no details available. Alliance headquarters simply said that the scope was comparable to the previous year. At that time, NATO spoke of around 2,000 military personnel and more than 70 aircraft involved. These included German fighter jets capable of transporting US nuclear bombs stationed in Europe.

NATO nuclear policy chief Nassima Barrows said of the upcoming exercise that “Steadfast Noon” was intended to demonstrate that NATO is ready to defend the alliance’s territory if the worst comes to the worst and that it also has the necessary capabilities. Of course, real nuclear weapons would not be used.

Colonel David Bull, who is responsible for nuclear operations in the alliance, explained that the main aim is to train the interaction of all parties involved in order to maintain a safe, credible and reliable nuclear deterrent.

According to NATO information, the exercise has no connection with current global political events and is not directed against a specific country. In its threat analysis, however, the alliance has been focusing on… Russia in view. Just last week it was Moscow again accused of nuclear saber rattling.

The reason why Germany, as a country without its own nuclear weapons, regularly takes part in the exercise is NATO’s so-called nuclear participation. It stipulates that, in an emergency, US B61 nuclear weapons stationed in Europe will also be dropped by aircraft from partner states and then eliminate opposing forces. According to officially unconfirmed information, US nuclear weapons are said to be in northern Italy, for example Belgium as well as in the Netherlands and in Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate.

NATO did not provide any information about the exact exercise scenario. According to military experts, the exercises, which take place regularly in October, include training in how to safely transport weapons from underground magazines to aircraft and mount them under fighter jets. As with the subsequent attack exercises, only practice bombs without a real nuclear warhead are used.