NATO to begin its annual Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise, says Alliance's chief

On October 14, NATO will commence its annual nuclear exercise, Steadfast Noon, as confirmed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The exercise comes against the backdrop of heightened nuclear rhetoric from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Steadfast Noon drills, hosted by Belgium and The Netherlands, will involve around 60 aircraft, including F-35A fighter jets and B-52 bombers from 13 NATO nations. The exercises will simulate missions involving US nuclear warheads, though no live weapons will be used. Approximately 2,000 military personnel will participate in the two-week drills, which will primarily focus on the United Kingdom, the North Sea, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

“In an uncertain world, it is vital that we test our defence and strengthen it, so that our adversaries know NATO is ready and able to respond to any threat,” Rutte stated after meetings in London with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite Russia’s recent warnings of potential nuclear escalation, NATO officials emphasized that the exercise is not a response to any specific event but has been conducted annually for over a decade. NATO's assistant secretary general for defence policy, Angus Lapsley, reinforced the importance of nuclear deterrence to ensure NATO’s defensive credibility.

President Putin has repeatedly raised the possibility of nuclear consequences since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, declaring last month that Russia might use nuclear weapons in response to conventional missile strikes.

NATO officials underlined that the alliance's nuclear deterrence is vital to counter threats, with Lapsley stressing: “We seek to deter adversaries, primarily Russia, through both conventional and nuclear deterrence.”

By Khagan Isayev