By David Young-
Top nuclear exercise with warplanes that can drop atomic bombs will take place from next week over the United Kingdom, the North Sea and Belgium, the alliance has said.
NATO announced on Friday it would launch its annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Monday, with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over Belgium, the North Sea and Britain to practise the use of U.S. nuclear bombs based in Europe.
The nuclear drills – which do not involve live bombs – are taking place amid heightened tensions after Russia repeatedly threatened nuclear strikes in Ukraine following major military setbacks on the battlefield there. NATO chose to highlight well in advance the fact the exercise was coming up.
NATO said on Friday it would launch its annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Monday, with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over Belgium, the North Sea and Britain to practise the use of U.S. nuclear bombs based in Europe.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, said earlier in the week it would send a “very wrong signal” to cancel the long-planned event.
The announcement was also to ensure transparency and reduce the risk of any misunderstanding about the highly sensitive exercise.
They will include fighter jets from allied nations, such as Belgium and Germany, that can carry B61 bombs provided by the United States as well as US B52 bombers.
The jets will be escorted by other warplanes along with refuelling aircraft and spy planes. The aim is to test the ability of allies to conduct nuclear strikes – the bedrock of NATO deterrence policy.
“Training flights will take place over Belgium… as well as over the North Sea and the United Kingdom,” NATO said in a statement.
The B-52 long-range bombers will fly from Minot Air Base in North Dakota.
Hosted this year by Belgium, the training will run from Monday until 30 October.
On Tuesday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg made clear that the alliance would proceed with its drills despite the tense international situation.
Safe Nuclear Deterrent
Oana Lungescu, the alliance spokesperson, said: “This exercise helps ensure that the alliance’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.”
NATO’s new Strategic Concept, adopted by Allied leaders at the Madrid Summit in June makes clear that “the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.” It stresses that, “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance. NATO’s goal is a safer world for all; we seek to create the security environment for a world without nuclear weapons,“ Lungescu added.
A different NATO country hosts the exercise each year. Last year it was Italy’s turn. Everything related to the alliance’s nuclear policy, posture and activity is normally top secret.
Allies of NATO are conventionally careful about commenting on its plans or responses to nuclear weapons being used to avoid intensifying matters
NATO is usually not explicit about its contingency plans with respect to the use of nuclear weapons, except to say such circumstances would be “extremely remote”.
Its conventional historic stance in this respect made it surprising when a television interview, Emmanuel Macron said his country would not retaliate with a nuclear strike should Russia’s despotic leader, Vladimir Putin launch a nuclear weapon in Ukraine or in the region. no other NATO country has commented in this regard, and chances are that other NATO countries could easily decide to veto Macron’s stance should such a situation arise.
Russia has used the threat of a nuclear strike in Ukraine was a disturbing escalation of the war, which could have serious ramifications for Russia and the world should Putin carry it out.
observers and analysts believe Putin cannot easily authorise the use of nuclear weapons without enough approval from other political influencers in his circle but are aware of the fact that in Putin’s world of dictatorship, anything is quite possible.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, said earlier in the week it would send a “very wrong signal” to cancel the long-planned event.