Estimates suggest Italy hosts up to 35 B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs, each with a yield of up to 100 kilotons—seven times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. These are stored at Aviano (around 20 bombs) and Ghedi (15–20 bombs) airbases.

A parliamentary motion has been introduced to explore Italy’s potential accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the removal of nuclear arms from its territory, and the development of emergency response plans for civilians.

Meanwhile, protests are intensifying in Montichiari, near the Ghedi airbase, where airport workers refuse to handle weapons transport. Far more alarming are the potential consequences of an accidental or deliberate detonation of even a single bomb. Analysis, including Greenpeace data, warns that such a catastrophe could kill 2 to 10 million people due to the blast and radiation. Brescia province could be obliterated, and Lombardy would face devastating destruction. Yet, risk management remains highly classified, with no evacuation plans or public information provided.

Despite these immense risks, Italy’s government continues to host U.S. nuclear weapons, prioritizing NATO’s military-political interests over civilian safety. The lack of transparency, evacuation plans, and dismissal of public protests reveal that strategic alignment with the alliance outweighs the lives of millions at risk in a potential disaster.