ALLES EIGENDREH – FOR THE DIGI VN

Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Katharina Kroll
00:17 Marcel van Egmond | Commander Air Combat Command Netherlands
01:13 Marcel van Egmond | Commander Air Combat Command Netherlands
01:35 Katharina Kroll | DW Brussels Bureau Chief
02:06 Marcel van Egmond | Commander Air Combat Command Netherlands

Script:

This is what NATO wants the world to see: a nuclear weapons training mission – usually top secret, now on show:
+++SOT Marcel van Egmond, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Combat Command +++
“The openness will help us to understand for everybody in the public, in Nato, that this mission is important. It helps our deterrence.”
These are some of the 70 aircraft involved in the exercise – which took place largely over the North Sea.  The US is included in the 14 Nato allies taking part in the two week mission. 

+++SOT Marcel van Egmond, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Combat Command +++
“The mission is in case of need that we actually deploy nuclear weapons with this type of aircraft and some other aircraft as well. So multiple duo capable aircraft.  And duo capable tells us as much that you can do conventional attacks with it and also nuclear attacks. And multiple countries in Nato do that."

For years journalists wouldn’t be given any information about this kind exercises. But this year, NATO wants visibility. Why?

+++SOT Marcel van Egmond, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Combat Command +++
“Of course, the real-world situation and the fact that we are open comes together but it`s not necessarily linked to that per so, but   I think it also helps for the deterrence to be open about it and to speak out”.

The exact scenario they practice remains classified – and the planes don’t carry weapons.

Stand-up – Katharina Kroll:
“Fake scenario. Real message. That message is one of deterrence – with the most terrifying weapons known to mankind. NATO wants to show: if there's an attack, there will be a response. And the audience includes, of course – Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

But potential aggressors are not the only audience this open exercise is aimed at 
(question on air) Is it also a massege to the people at the eastern flank of Nato, a sign of support?

+++SOT Marcel van Egmond, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Combat Command +++ 
“I think that´s the bigger part. The support to the people and understand that for the Nato allies that we are capable of doing this and that we are ready and trained for it. That we are as good as we can be. To deterr the people that would step into our countries and our ally Nato force.”
Nato hopes - it never needs to use this training. But the point of deterrence is to let the right people know they’re ready if they have to.+++