NATO’s new Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Thursday that the military alliance will hold a major nuclear exercise in the coming days, weeks after Moscow initiated plans to lower the Kremlin’s threshold to deploy nuclear munitions.
“In an uncertain world, it is vital that we test our defense and that we strengthen our defense so that our adversaries know that NATO is ready and is able to respond to any threat,” Rutte told reporters in London.
The annual “Steadfast Noon” maneuvers are set to begin on Monday and are expected to run for two weeks. The operation reportedly involves 2,000 personnel from 13 members of the armed forces partnership, who will focus on simulating aircraft-based weapons mobilization.
The notification of the combat drills follows remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to his country's Security Council in September, recommending the relaxing of response protocols for attacks from nations supported by a nuclear power. Many observers viewed the statements as a warning to Western powers to dissuade Ukraine from conducting strikes on Russia's territory.
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