NATO Seeks to Calm Russia Over Italy Nuclear Drills

NATO is trying to convince Russia that planned nuclear drills in Italy do not give cause for fear. Politico writes about this against the backdrop of tensions between the alliance and Moscow.

NATO announced on Thursday that 17 member countries of the alliance will take part in the annual Steadfast Noon drills. The exercise will take place in Italy from October 13 to 23. According to Politico, this year's drills will follow a tense exchange of letters between Moscow and NATO, after alliance member countries conducted military exercises near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in August.

Nasima Barrows, NATO's director of nuclear policy, said: "We do this every year. It is also a clear message to countries such as Russia that there is no need to worry; it is predictable and there is no basis for miscalculation. Its purpose, in essence, is to train our allied forces so that we are ready and ensure the security of our nuclear capabilities."

After NATO's previous drills, Moscow sent the alliance a letter threatening strikes on allied territory and mentioning the possibility of using its nuclear arsenal. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte publicly condemned this action last week. Tensions are also rising because European countries accuse Russia of sabotage and of activating so-called hybrid attacks across the continent.

Speaking to the media on condition of anonymity, a senior NATO official said: "Our goal is to keep the situation calm. Russian officials constantly escalate the tension, while we will try to defuse the situation."

US Colonel David Bull, head of NATO nuclear operations, said the number of participants in this year's exercise is "similar" to previous years. According to him, the drill includes both "simulated alarm declarations and real flights," but "no real nuclear weapons will be used."