Steadfast Noon lasts for two weeks and features fighter jets that can carry U.S. nuclear warheads, though no live weapons are used during the exercise.
Involving 13 Allied nations and 2,000 troops, it serves as a crucial test of NATO's nuclear deterrent and reinforces the commitment to protect and defend all member countries.
In an official statement, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that "nuclear deterrence is fundamental to Allied security."
He added that "Steadfast Noon serves as a significant test of the Alliance's nuclear capabilities, clearly signaling to any adversary that NATO is committed to protecting and defending all of its members."
NATO emphasizes that it is taking steps to enhance the safety and credibility of its nuclear deterrent, including the recent declaration that the first Allied F-35A fighter jets from the Netherlands are ready for nuclear missions this year.
The declaration from the Washington Summit highlights that the primary purpose of NATO's nuclear capabilities is to maintain peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression, affirming that the alliance will continue to be a nuclear power as long as nuclear weapons exist.
Source: IAR/PAP/NATO
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