NATO’s nuclear deterrent exercises have begun in the Netherlands. They are conducted regularly and are planned in advance as part of the alliance’s broader efforts to maintain readiness and transparency about its nuclear capabilities. The exercises are not linked to current world events and do not involve live nuclear weapons, DW reports.
Announcing the start of the exercises, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said:
“We need to do this because it helps us to have the most reliable, safe, secure and effective nuclear forces”.
This year, the main location for the exercises was the Netherlands. The main base is designated as Volkel Air Base, with supporting elements located at Kleine Brogel Air Base in Belgium and RAF Lakenheath Air Base in the United Kingdom.
About 70 aircraft from 14 NATO member states are participating in the exercise, including both conventional and dual-purpose aircraft. Support is provided by surveillance, aerial refueling, and command and staff aircraft. A significant number of supporting assets operate from Skridstrup Air Base. in Denmark.
US Air Force Colonel Daniel Bunch, head of the Nuclear Operations Division at the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SHAPE), emphasized:
“Overall, we expect to have close to two thousand personnel directly supporting these exercises”.
NATO Director of Nuclear Policy Jim Stokes noted that these exercises should “promote transparency when and where needed, so that our Alliance and the global community have a good understanding of what we are doing”.
