NATO will begin its annual nuclear deterrence exercise in Italy next week, with the participation of aircraft from 17 allied countries.

NATO to Begin Its Annual Nuclear Deterrence Exercises Following Threats from Russia (Europa Press) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold its annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Steadfast Noon, in Italy between October 13 and 23, with the participation of dozens of aircraft from 17 allied countries and without the use of real nuclear weapons. The alliance specified that the exercise aims to test coordination, security, and readiness procedures for its nuclear forces, and that it does not respond to current international events. NATO's Director of Nuclear Policy, Nassima Barrows, stated that the deployment is not directed against Russia or any other country. "Our 'Steadfast Noon' exercise is routine. We have been doing it every year and we have not postponed it," she said. "There is nothing to worry about. This is predictable," she added. The maneuver will begin next Tuesday and will last 10 days. However, the exercise is announced after Moscow threatened NATO countries over the potential isolation of Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave located between Poland and Lithuania. The region hosts Russia's main naval base in the Baltic Sea and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles. "Let there be no doubt: Russia would be willing to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country," the Russian Embassy in Ireland stated in a communiqué. Barrows acknowledged an increase in Russian nuclear rhetoric, though she indicated that NATO had not detected relevant changes on the ground. "We monitor Russia very closely. We have not observed any significant change in its posture that concerns us," she said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Europa Press) Alliance officials did not detail the scenarios or the equipment that will take part in the drills. In previous editions, bombers, fighters capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and ground personnel participated, though without real munitions. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Lisbon, defended Washington's pressure for NATO's European allies to increase their military investment and stated that this demand seeks to strengthen the alliance's deterrence capability. "People sometimes see this call to invest more in defense as something hostile. It is not something hostile," Rubio clarified at a press conference alongside Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel. The US diplomat argued that NATO's strength depends on each member's capabilities. "For NATO to be relevant, it has to be strong. For NATO to be strong, its member states have to be strong," he emphasized. Rubio acknowledged that the countries of the alliance have different resources and sizes, though he insisted that all must expand their defense means: "The stronger NATO's members are, the stronger NATO will be." The US official described the organization as a defensive alliance whose function is to prevent aggression. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Mark Schiefelbein/REUTERS) The politician close to US President Donald Trump advocated for sharing defense costs and cooperating in the development of armaments and military technology, while highlighting the value of the US presence in Europe for deploying capabilities toward other regions in crisis situations. "That is one of the reasons why NATO is valuable to the United States," he said. Asked about a previous message in which he called on Europe to wake up from its lethargy, Rubio stated that his point was not limited to the defense of borders. "We are the West. We have much to be proud of in our history and in what our civilization has contributed to the world," he said. Rangel backed Washington's request for NATO's European partners to take on defense responsibilities. The minister stated that Portugal allocated 2% of its gross domestic product to the sector in 2025, compared to around 1.6% previously. Portugal will maintain its commitment to the target set for 2035, which contemplates investment equivalent to 5% of gross domestic product, with 3.5% directed to defense and another 1.5% to related expenses, according to Rangel. "For us, NATO is a fundamental pillar of our defense and our security," the Portuguese chancellor emphasized. (With information from AFP)