Two nuclear force exercises, one American and one Russian, combined this week with NATO drills, to underscore the very high risk of nuclear war if the West doesn’t abandon the paradigm of geopolitics that governs its relations with the rest of the world, but particularly its relations with Russia and China.
On the U.S. side, U.S. Strategic Command confirmed on Oct. 21 the kickoff of its annual Global Thunder exercise. “Global Thunder 26 engages warfighters across the nuclear enterprise, including U.S.STRATCOM components and subordinate units. Its purpose is to support peace through strength and national security objectives by enhancing combat readiness, assuring worldwide allies and partners, and demonstrating the Command’s warfighting capacity and lethal capabilities,” it said in a press release. “As with past exercises, Global Thunder 26 will see increased bomber and other aircraft flights. U.S.STRATCOM installations may experience longer wait times at the gates, and the exercise may affect other base support functions.”
Otherwise, very little information seems to be available about the exercise, but it typically involves B-52H and B-2 nuclear capable bombers supported by dozens of air refueling tankers, E-6B nuclear command and control aircraft and E-4B “doomsday” aircraft as well as simulated launches of Minuteman III ICBMs and Trident submarine launched missiles.
