NATO to start annual nuclear deterrence drills on Monday

NATO is to launch its annual nuclear deterrence exercise dubbed Steadfast Noon on Monday.

The manoeuvre is not a response to recent Russian airspace violations or other provocations, the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said on Friday.

Rutte stressed that the drill is an annual training exercise.

“We need to do this because it helps us to make sure that our nuclear deterrence remains as credible and as safe and as secure and as effective as possible,” he said.

“It also sends a clear signal to any potential adversary that we will and can protect and defend all allies against all threats,” Rutte added.

The main base for this year’s annual exercise is the Dutch air base in Volkel with further activities planning at Kleine-Brogel in Belgium, Lakenheath in the UK and Skrydstrup in Denmark.

A total of around 2,000 military personnel from 14 NATO countries and more than 70 aircraft will be involved in the manoeuvre, according to chief planner Daniel Bunch.

The German Air Force will participate with three Tornado aircraft equipped to drop US nuclear bombs and four Eurofighters jets.

According to military experts, the manoeuvres taking place regularly in October involve practising how to safely transport US nuclear weapons from underground storage facilities to aircraft and mount them on fighter jets. However no real nuclear warheads are used in these exercises.

Not all NATO allies possess nuclear bombs but US B61 nuclear weapons are stationed in some European countries as a deterrent.

According to unconfirmed reports, US nuclear weapons are stored in northern Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Büchel in Germany.