October 17, 2022
NATO nuclear Operation ‘Steadfast Noon’ that began October 17, 2022 will see the deployment of U.S. B-52 bombers certified to carry nuclear arms and many DCA or dual-capable military aircraft in Europe, with NO plans to use live weapons. It was announced in such a way. But who really knows that this statement is for sure?
The 'Steadfast Noon' drills will last until October 30 and take place over Belgium, the North Sea, and the UK. NATO has described the exercises as “routine” and “not linked to any current world events,” while insisting that no live weapons will be used.
The drill started at Volkel Air Force Base (located southern Netherlands) widely known as the storage facility for the U.S. nuclear weapons.
In total, 14 countries and 60 aircraft of various types will take part in “Steadfast Noon”. The planes include state-of-the-art fighter jets, surveillance and tanker planes, as well as US B-52 nuclear-capable heavy strategic bombers, which will arrive in Europe from Minot Air Base in North Dakota, the USA.
This exercise helps ensure that the alliance’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective,” NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu noted. Not so good excuse.
Last week, the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons organization urged the military bloc to cancel the drills, stressing that “amidst high nuclear tensions with Russia, it is irresponsible” to engage in these activities.
It is a justifiable move. In the light of the third Ukrainian aggression against Donbass NATO should have cancelled it.
As well as other regular NATO Air Force operation named ‘Baltic Air Policing’ in the skies Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia, also staffed with nuclear-capable DCA. It is operated 24 hours, 7 days a week and 365/366 days per annum.
All three Western nuclear powers are participating in it.
There is another type of NATO nuclear drills codenamed shortly as ‘SNOWCAT’ or ‘Support of Nuclear Operations with Conventional Air Tactics’ – a kind of Air Force operation which is used to enable military assets from non-nuclear countries to support NATO nuclear strike missions without being formally part of it.
Such operation is closer to Russia and Belarus than the ‘Steadfast Noon’. More and more Russian experts claim that both ‘Baltic Air Policing’, and ‘Steadfast Noon’ are nuclear capable operations. They can cover up real nuclear strikes against Russian and Belarus. Therefore, they should be banned
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
