By Yu Lan
NATO kicked off its large-scale nuclear exercise "Steadfast Noon" in northern Europe on Monday, with 2,000 soldiers and 60 aircraft from 13 NATO countries participating in the exercise. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, "Steadfast Noon sends a clear message to any adversary that NATO will protect and defend all Allies."
This year's exercise, hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, involves participants simulating missions in which fighter jets carry US nuclear warheads. Against the backdrop of Russia's announcement to revise its fundamental nuclear deterrence policy, the Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise of NATO has garnered increased attention.
According to military observer Liang Yongchun, there are three highlights of the exercise this year. The first is the background. It occurred in the situation that the US and Russia is escalating nuclear confrontation in Europe, and both sides are lowering the threshold for nuclear war. The second is new members. Finland participates in the nuclear exercise as a NATO member for the first time this year, in addition, Poland expressed its willingness to allow the US to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory this April. The third is new tactics. It indicates the fact that the US will promote the use of F-35A fighter jets to carry and drop nuclear bombs.
Liang further pointed out that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US has made numerous enhancements to the Steadfast Noon exercise, including duration, location, training subjects, and other aspects. Firstly, the duration was extended from one week to two weeks. Secondly, the location of the exercise is pushed forward to get closer and closer to Russia. Thirdly, the US is playing a more important role. It has been deploying strategic bombers from the US to Europe to participate in nuclear strike exercises, demonstrating its protection of European allies.
NATO held nuclear exercises shortly after the announcement of Russian President Vladimir Putin to change the nuclear policy of Russia. According to Liang's analysis, NATO has two purposes in holding the high-profile Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise at this time.
Politically, it emphasizes the "Russia threat" and demonstrates that NATO is not afraid of nuclear confrontation with Russia. Militarily, the US is deploying nuclear weapons to more allied countries under the guise of providing a nuclear umbrella and controlling their security "lifeline."
Liang holds that NATO has increased the intensity of its nuclear exercises in recent years on the grounds of rising external threats. It is driven by the concealed self-interest of the US in pursuing hegemony. Through intensifying its nuclear exercises to strengthen the nuclear confrontation with Russia, the US hopes to entrap Europe in strategic security issues, undermine Russia-Europe relations by placing a strategic shackle on Russia, forcing it into a nuclear arms race, and worsen the security environment in Europe, thus encouraging international capital to return to the US.
Currently, the US has deployed over 100 tactical nuclear warheads in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The next step is to continue spreading these weapons to Eastern European countries to effectively exert control over European allies under the guise of protection.
Editor's note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
