Nato to start annual ‘nuclear deterrence’ drills amid Russia tensions
Nato says the exercise, scheduled to run from October 13 to 23, is not linked to current world events or directed against any country.
Nato announced it would commence its annual nuclear deterrence exercises in Italy, beginning on Tuesday, amid heightened tensions with Russia. The drills, known as Steadfast Noon, will take place from October 13 to 23 and involve 17 nations. According to a Nato statement, the exercises are a regular, non-lethal training activity aimed at maintaining readiness and testing procedures that bolster the alliance's deterrence and defense capabilities.
Nato emphasizes that the drills are not linked to current global events and are not directed against any specific country. However, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted that while the alliance is fundamentally a defensive organization, these exercises help ensure a capable and credible capability to maintain peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.
Russia, currently engaged in an invasion of Ukraine since 2022, has accused Nato of conducting provocative actions near its Kaliningrad exclave and has threatened to use its entire nuclear arsenal. Despite these warnings, Nato officials maintain that Russia's nuclear posture has not seen significant changes.
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