NATO nuclear drill next week

According to Isna, Mark Rutte, the new Secretary General of NATO, said today (Thursday) that the alliance will start its annual nuclear drills on Monday.

NATO officials say F-35A fighter jets and B-52 bombers will participate in the exercise, which will be hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, along with 60 aircraft from 13 countries.

After meeting with British Prime Minister Kerr Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rutte, who traveled to London, said: “In an uncertain world, it is vital that we test and strengthen our defenses before our enemies.” Know that NATO is ready and able to respond to any threat.

He clarified: The whole exercise will focus especially on Britain, the North Sea, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The roughly 2,000 military personnel participating in the drills will simulate missions in which warplanes carry US nuclear warheads, officials said, according to Reuters.

Also, according to NATO officials, this exercise will start on Monday and will last for about 2 weeks.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in January 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West about possible nuclear consequences.

He announced last month that Russia could use nuclear weapons if hit by conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any attack on it backed by a nuclear power a joint attack.

But NATO officials emphasize that this exercise was not a response to Moscow’s recent announcements and that this exercise has been held annually for more than a decade.

Angus Lapsley, NATO’s assistant secretary general for defense policy and planning, said: “We don’t constantly adjust our affairs based on everything that is said or not said every day, but exercises like this exercise to demonstrate NATO’s nuclear capabilities and create deterrence.” It is important against any attack.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, he added: “We seek to prevent any hostility, especially from Russia, in various ways, including conventional deterrence.” But this is always supported by nuclear deterrence.

Lapsley also said that NATO is currently focused on ensuring the credibility and guarantee of its nuclear deterrent.

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