Protests in Brussels against NATO nuclear drills

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The Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons protested Wednesday in the hundreds at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, against the Western alliance's nuclear exercises dubbed "Steadfast Noon".

"Today, October the 19th, the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons demonstrated against the military nuclear exercise 'Steadfast Noon' that is taking place on Belgian territory. The coalition went to the NATO headquarters in Brussels to express their outrage," the organization said in a press release.

Nuclear weapons being present on Belgian soil, as well as the holding of nuclear exercises, was in "explicit violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty", the organization's statement further added.

"At a time of rising international tensions, with in recent weeks repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, conducting a military nuclear exercise is irresponsible and only increases the risk of a confrontation with Russia," the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons underlined. 

The organization's members also called on the Belgian government to declare its opposition to NATO holding its Steadfast Noon drills in Belgium while advocating de-escalation and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Steadfast Noon exercises, taking place in Belgium, over the North Sea, and the United Kingdom from October 17-30, are aimed at testing and bolstering the Western alliance's nuclear deterrence capabilities.

The drills comprise 14 countries and some 60 aircraft of various models and types, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and tanker aircraft.

NATO claimed that the drills had nothing to do with the ongoing Ukraine war or any other major events. The nuclear exercise is a "routine, recurring training activity and it is not linked to any current world events," the alliance said.

NATO announced last week the launch of the Neptune Strike (NEST 22-2), a multi-domain exercise in the Mediterranean Sea by the alliance's Naval Striking and Support Forces.

According to the alliance, the exercise is expected to be completed by October 28, explaining that the "NEST 22-2 highlights the natural evolution of NATO’s ability to integrate maritime warfare capabilities of a carrier strike group to support Allied defence."

NATO forces will simulate air operations with the participation of land-based fighters, air-to-air refueling tankers, and airborne early warning and control aircraft, the military alliance mentioned.

It is noteworthy that Neptune Strike is the third phase of NATO’s long-planned Project Neptune series, which was elaborated in 2020. Two previous military exercises under this project were conducted in February and May 2022.

Both exercises come at a time where Russia is facing mounting accusations of planning on using nukes against Kiev.

US President Joe Biden doubted last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use a tactical nuclear weapon, as Kiev pleaded for a rapid increase in Western military aid.

This came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out that Kiev creates risks associated with the use of weapons of mass destruction, which is also evidenced by the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about NATO's "preemptive" strikes on Russia.

Speaking at Australia's Lowy Institute via a video link, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said NATO should launch "preemptive" strikes on Russia rather than "waiting" for Russia to attack.