Italy: Parliamentary inquiry launched over NATO nuclear exercise

Italian lawmaker Angelo Bonelli of the Greens has submitted a parliamentary inquiry regarding the NATO Steadfast Noon 2026 nuclear exercise currently taking place in Italian airspace. The inquiry asks whether the Italian government has commissioned studies on the projected short, medium, and long-term health impacts, including expected deaths and injuries, resulting from a nuclear conflict.

Bonelli’s questioning seeks to determine if the government will suspend Italy’s participation in the exercise based on potential humanitarian data. The inquiry notes that the annual multinational exercise involves aircraft capable of carrying B61 nuclear bombs and includes simulated atomic bomb launches to train crews. The lawmaker highlighted that the exercise's planning was disclosed via aeronautical information publications rather than official parliamentary communication.

The exercise involves extensive aerial and naval operations, including drone activities and live firing, across various regions of the Italian peninsula, including Sicily. The inquiry also questions the lack of parallel exercises designed for public management of civil, health, and environmental emergencies related to nuclear scenarios.