NATO describes the manoeuvres as “a routine training activity that has been conducted annually for over a decade,” public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Steadfast Noon 2023 is set to involve “13 Allied countries and a mix of aircraft types, including advanced fighter jets and U.S. B-52 bombers that will fly in from the United States,” according to officials.
Training flights will take place over Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea and also feature conventional jets and surveillance and refuelling aircraft, up to 60 planes in all, NATO said.
Steadfast Noon is designed to test NATO’s preparedness for dealing with potential nuclear attacks, the IAR news agency reported.
The annual exercise involves fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but “does not involve any live bombs,” according to NATO officials.
The alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Our exercise will help to ensure the credibility, effectiveness and security of our nuclear deterrent. It sends a clear message that NATO will protect and defend all Allies.“
NATO officials noted that Steadfast Noon 2023 “is not linked to current world events and the bulk of the training is held at least 1,000 kilometres from Russia’s borders.”
According to the Western alliance’s Strategic Concept, “the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.”
The document states that “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.”
Steadfast Noon 2023 will run until October 26, the IAR news agency reported.
Monday is day 600 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, NATO
