The exercise is scheduled until October 30 and was reportedly planned before the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. This Monday, NATO began its operation “Steadfast Noon”, an annual “routine” military exercise supposed to test its nuclear deterrent system in Europe. A military exercise that represents “a regular and recurring training activity and is not related to current world events”.
This annual maneuver mobilizes up to 60 aircraft, including American B-52 long-range bombers, in a wide air area over Belgium, the United Kingdom and the North Sea. Fourteen of the 30 member countries of the Alliance participate but not France, whose nuclear deterrence policy is independent of NATO.
“The best way to prevent an escalation”
Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted on going ahead with the exercise despite tensions with Russia. “It would be a very bad signal if we suddenly canceled a long-planned routine exercise due to the war in Ukraine,” he said last week. “We must understand that the firm and predictable behavior of NATO, our military force, is the best way to prevent an escalation,” he added.
NATO assures that it has seen no change in Russia’s nuclear system despite the hardening of the Kremlin’s rhetoric. “But we remain vigilant,” said Jens Stoltenberg.