On October 10, NATO announced that its annual nuclear exercises will begin on October 14. According to the Associated Press, this announcement comes just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting to discuss a revised national policy on nuclear deterrence aimed at preventing support from Ukraine’s Western allies for any attacks on Russian territory.
Reuters reports that the upcoming NATO exercises will involve about 2,000 military personnel from 13 countries along with over 60 aircraft. The drills are set to last two weeks and, while no live ordnance will be used, military personnel will simulate the use of U.S. nuclear warheads.
However, NATO officials have indicated to Reuters that these exercises are not in direct response to Russia’s recent statements, highlighting that this annual event has been ongoing for over a decade. Angus Lapsley, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Defense Policy and Planning, emphasized, “We do not adjust our activities based on a single day’s comments.” He added that such exercises are crucial for demonstrating NATO’s nuclear capabilities and deterring attacks. “We seek to deter any adversary, primarily Russia, in various ways… but nuclear deterrence remains fundamental.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated, “In an uncertain world, we must test and strengthen our defenses to ensure that adversaries know NATO is prepared to respond to any threat.”
Previously, Russian media reported that Putin held a meeting in late September to discuss a new version of Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy. This draft expands the scope of Russia’s nuclear deterrence to include more countries and military alliances compared to the policy that was established in 2020. It proposes that any aggression against Russia by non-nuclear states, with the backing of nuclear states, be classified as a “joint attack.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the revised policy should be viewed as a warning to the West. Additionally, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, recently stated that Russia has issued a “clear warning” to the U.S. and other NATO members following its lead, suggesting that the West’s current unconstructive policies could lead to direct military conflict between nuclear powers and significantly heighten nuclear threats.
