NATO presses ahead with 'Steadfast Noon' nuclear drill after Russia's nuclear warning

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO will hold its major annual nuclear exercise next week, senior officials at the military alliance said on Thursday, just weeks after Russia warned that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons should its territory come under threat.

The “Steadfast Noon” exercise starts on Tuesday and will run for 10 days. It will be hosted by Italy and could involve dozens of aircraft from 17 NATO countries. The exercise has been held at roughly the same time each year for over a decade.

NATO’s Head of Nuclear Policy, Nassima Barrows, stressed that the exercise poses no threat to Russia or any other country.

“Our exercise Steadfast Noon is routine. We have been doing this every year and we have not postponed,” Barrows told reporters. "There is no need to worry. This is predictable."

NATO officers and officials would not say what kind of scenarios or military equipment will be used to test the 32-nation alliance's nuclear readiness. They insisted that it is not in any way related to current international events.

Bomber aircraft and fighter jets that can carry nuclear warheads have taken part in the past, along with ground troops. No nuclear warheads or live munitions are used. The bulk of the exercise is being held near Italy, far from Russia.

Late last month, Russia warned NATO allies against trying to cut off its Kaliningrad exclave. The warning was sent to NATO headquarters but also published on the websites of several Russian embassies in Europe.

The Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad lies between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It is home to Russia’s main Baltic navy base and other military assets. Nuclear-capable Iskander missiles are deployed there.

Western military officers have said that key military installations in Kaliningrad would be a likely first target should Russia ever launch an attack on any NATO ally.

“There should be no mistake – Russia would be ready to use all its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” a statement from Russia’s embassy in Ireland said.

Barrows acknowledged that Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is on the rise, but said NATO has not seen any worrying developments on the ground.

“We monitor Russia very closely. We have not observed any big changes to its posture that would cause us alarm,” she said.