Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise began on 14 October 2024
Posted: 20th October 2024
Nuclear bombs under our feet
Manlio Dinucci
NATO reports that its annual two-week Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise began on 14 October 2024. More than 60 aircraft from 13 countries are conducting training flights over Western Europe. Fighter jets capable of carrying US nuclear warheads are taking part, including the first NATO F-35A fighter jets to be declared nuclear-capable. Heavy bombers, escort fighters, aerial refuelling tankers and electronic warfare aircraft also take part. 2,000 military personnel from eight air bases are involved. The nuclear war exercise, which is clearly aimed at Russia, also involves Italy, which – together with Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands – adheres to NATO’s ‘nuclear sharing’. What the extent of this ‘sharing’ is, is explained by NATO itself in an official text: 1) “NATO’s nuclear planning will be carried out by the High-Level Group under the chairmanship of the United States. 2) “The United States retains absolute control and custody of its nuclear weapons deployed in Europe, while the Allies provide military support. In a nutshell, it is the US that provides the European Allies with nuclear weapons over which it retains absolute control, while the European Allies provide aircraft and military personnel ready for nuclear attack under absolute US command. The ‘sharing’ of nuclear weapons is beyond the countries that are officially part of it: this is evident from the fact that Poland, Romania and Finland are participating in the nuclear war exercise. NATO aircraft with dual conventional and nuclear capabilities are also stationed in the Baltic States. This means that the US has established an advanced front in Europe from which a nuclear attack on Russia can be launched.
Simultaneously, the US has ‘modernised’ nuclear bases in Europe, equipping them with F-35A fighters and new B61-12 nuclear bombs. In Italy, the Ghedi base, which is home to the 6th wing of the Italian Air Force, and the Aviano base, which houses the 31st US fighter wing, have been ‘modernised’. Other nuclear bases that have been ‘modernised’ are Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Volkel in the Netherlands and Büchel in Germany. The base at Lakenheasth in the UK has also been secretly ‘modernised’.
The United States is ‘modernising’ its nuclear arsenal at a projected cost of $1.7 trillion. This is driving an arms race that is becoming more dangerous than the Cold War. Suffice it to say that US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe, close to Russia, can hit St Petersburg or Moscow within minutes.