The NATO bloc holds annual exercises "Steadfast Noon" (Steadfast Noon), which began on October 18, during which a nuclear war scenario will be worked out. 14 European countries, including Germany, are taking part in them. Dozens of aircraft are involved, including nuclear-armed fighters, combat aircraft, as well as tankers and reconnaissance aircraft, the Swiss Telegraph Agency (SDA) reports.
The details of the maneuvers are strictly secret, but an analysis of flight data conducted by Danish nuclear weapons expert Han Christensen allows us to conclude that this year's exercises are taking place in the airspace over the southern territory of the alliance.
This means that, among other things, the use of American B61 type nuclear bombs, which, according to unconfirmed reports, are stored at the Gedi military airbase in northern Italy, can be worked out. However, training flights will be carried out without bombs. On Monday, a German Tornado combat aircraft capable of transporting nuclear weapons landed here.
NATO's nuclear policy stipulates that partner countries can use US warheads stationed in Europe in an emergency. According to officially unconfirmed reports, American atomic weapons are deployed in Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, as well as in Buchel in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
"Those who practice nuclear war in 2021 did not recognize the signs of the times, because there can be no winners in a nuclear war, only losers. Let's hold a demonstration together against the maneuvers of nuclear war and for a world without nuclear weapons," the German peace initiative (Netzwerk Friedenskooperative) said in a statement.
Activists demand to cancel the "Persistent Noon" maneuvers, withdraw nuclear weapons from Germany, and stop nuclear rearmament programs.
It is also noted that huge amounts of money are being spent on nuclear warfare exercises and nuclear weapons that could be needed elsewhere. Thus, the cost of new B61-12 nuclear bombs will total about $ 10 billion, and more than 8 billion euros have been budgeted for new bombers for the Bundeswehr. By comparison, the money for the bombers could fund hospital beds for more than 1 million people.
Alexander Samozhnev