Deterrence against Russia: NATO announces defense exercise with nuclear weapons

This Monday, NATO begins its annual maneuver to defend the alliance’s territory with nuclear weapons. This time the crews of more than 60 aircraft will be involved in the exercise “Steadfast Noon,” Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on the sidelines of talks in London. They are supposed to train primarily in Great Britain, over the North Sea as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands.

According to Rutte, the maneuver is also about deterrence. “In an uncertain world, it is critical that we test and strengthen our defenses so that our adversaries know that NATO is ready and able to respond to any threat,” he said.

NATO does not provide any information about the exercise scenario or details. According to military experts, the exercises, which take place regularly in October, practice how to safely transport US nuclear weapons from underground magazines to the aircraft and mount them under the fighter jets. However, the training flights then take place without the bombs. NATO emphasizes that “Steadfast Noon” is not a reaction to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

NATO’s so-called nuclear sharing stipulates that, in an emergency, US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe can also be dropped from partner states’ aircraft and then, for example, eliminate opposing forces. According to officially unconfirmed information, US nuclear weapons are stored in northern Italy, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands and Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Bundeswehr recently took part in the “Steadfast Noon” exercises with, among other things, Tornado jets.