The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will commence its annual nuclear exercise, “Steadfast Noon,” on Monday, as tensions heighten following recent airspace incursions linked to Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the development in a video statement on Friday, emphasizing that the two-week exercise is a routine drill and not a direct response to Moscow’s recent activities.
“We need to do this because it helps us to make sure that our nuclear deterrent remains as credible, as safe, as secure, and as effective as possible,” Rutte said. “It also sends a clear signal to any potential adversary that we will and can protect and defend all allies against all threats.”
According to NATO officials, the exercise which will not involve live nuclear weapons will feature around 70 aircraft and 2,000 personnel from 13 member nations. Operations will take place from airbases in the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, and Denmark, with much of the training focused around the North Sea region.
The drill comes amid a wave of drone incursions reported near airports and military installations across several NATO countries, including Denmark. The incidents have raised security concerns within the alliance.
“Drones are not a new threat to us. Drones are something we understand,” said U.S. Colonel Daniel Bunch, NATO’s Chief of Nuclear Operations. “The more frequent incursions are obviously something we’re keeping an eye on.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has intensified its nuclear rhetoric, prompting NATO to strengthen deterrence measures and reinforce readiness.
However, Jim Stokes, NATO’s Director of Nuclear Policy, said there has been no observable change in Russia’s nuclear posture.
“We will, of course, continue to monitor on a regular basis all the Russian nuclear rhetoric, which happens quite often, and the use of dual-capable missiles in Ukraine,” Stokes stated.
The Steadfast Noon exercise is part of NATO’s longstanding commitment to maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent while demonstrating unity and readiness among member states in the face of evolving global threats.
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