Despite Russia's warning, NATO is preparing to conduct a nuclear exercise 1,000 kilometers from the Russian border. NATO Secretary General Jens said that despite rising tensions in the Ukrainian war and President Vladimir Putin Putin insisted he would not bluff with all available means to defend Russian territory, NATO will advance the long-planned nuclear exercise next week Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
This exercise, called "Steadfast Noon", is held once a year and usually lasts about a week. It involves fighter capable of carrying nuclear warhead , but does not involve any live bombs. Conventional jets , surveillance and refueling aircraft are also often involved.
14 of NATO's 30 member states will participate in the exercise, which was planned before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. A NATO official said the main part of the exercise will be held more than 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia.
"If we suddenly cancel a routine exercise of a long-term plan because of the Ukrainian war now, it would send a very wrong signal. It would definitely be a wrong signal," Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of the NATO Defense Ministers' Meeting in Brussels.
"NATO's firm, predictable behavior, our military strength, is the best way to prevent escalation," he said. “If we now create any misunderstandings and misjudgments for our will to protect and defend all of our allies in Moscow, we will increase the risk of escalation.”
As the Russian army retreated under the blow of the Ukrainian army equipped with Western weapons, Putin raised the ante by annexing four Ukrainian regions and announcing partial mobilization of up to 300,000 reserve personnel to support the shaky frontline. As his war plan went wrong, Putin repeatedly stated that he could resort to nuclear weapon to protect Russia's achievements. The threat is also intended to prevent NATO countries from delivering more advanced weapons to Ukraine. NATO as an organization does not possess any weapons. Nuclear weapons associated with NATO remain firmly controlled by three member states—the United States, Britain and France. The coalition's secret nuclear planning team will meet on Thursday in the defense minister. Stoltenberg described Putin's escalating nuclear rhetoric as "dangerous and reckless" and stressed that the allies "also made it clear to Russia that if they use nuclear weapons in any way, there will be serious consequences." “We are closely monitoring Russia’s nuclear power,” Stoltenberg said. "We haven't seen any changes in Russia's posture, but we are still on guard."
