Deterrence against Russia: NATO practices alliance defense with nuclear weapons – Moscow complains

NATO has begun its annual exercise to defend the alliance’s territory with nuclear weapons. According to the responsible command in Ramstein (Rhineland-Palatinate), around 2,000 military personnel from eight air force bases are taking part in the two-week exercise “Steadfast Noon”.

The airborne maneuvers will involve training with more than 60 aircraft. These include modern fighter jets capable of transporting US nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, long-range bombers, but also surveillance and tanker aircraft.

This year, the venue for the maneuver is in particular air force bases in Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the airspace over Great Britain, Denmark and the North Sea. The aircraft involved come from a total of 13 NATO countries, including Germany.

Kremlin criticizes NATO maneuvers

The Kremlin criticizes the maneuver as inflaming the already tense situation. “Against the background of the hot war being waged in the Ukraine conflict, such exercises only lead to a further escalation of tensions,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian agency Interfax. Peskov did not mention that Russia not only repeatedly holds maneuvers with its nuclear forces and puts the weapons on heightened alert in the conflict over Ukraine, but also threatens to use the missiles itself.

NATO: maneuvers are not a reaction to Russia’s war of aggression

NATO emphasizes that “Steadfast Noon” is not a reaction to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and that no live weapons will be used. Nevertheless, the exercise should also send a clear signal to Moscow that NATO is prepared to defend itself with the help of nuclear weapons if the worst comes to the worst.

“Nuclear deterrence is the foundation of the security of the alliance,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the maneuver. “Steadfast Noon” sends a clear message to every opponent: NATO will protect and defend all allies.

Training flights without bombs

NATO did 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 aircraft and mount them under fighter jets. During the training flights, however, the aircraft was flown without the bombs.

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

Russia confirms willingness to hold disarmament talks

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin recently initiated a change in nuclear doctrine that allows the use of nuclear weapons, even if Russia sees its existence threatened by the use of conventional weapons. This should deter the West from allowing the release of long-range weapons demanded by Ukraine for strikes against military targets in the Russian hinterland.

At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Peskov made it clear that Russia believes negotiations to reduce the world’s nuclear weapons potential are necessary. However, since the nuclear powers USA, Great Britain and France are currently involved in the war through their deliveries of conventional weapons to Ukraine, this is impossible. In the past, Putin had warned of a new nuclear arms race and suggested talks between the largest nuclear powers on new disarmament initiatives.