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BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO, despite rising tensions over the war in Ukraine and President Putin’s insistence that he is not bluffing about using all available means to defend Russian territory, NATO Secretary General Jens said the long-planned nuclear exercises will go ahead next week. Stoltenberg said Tuesday.
This exercise, called “Stable Noon,” is held annually and typically lasts about a week. This includes fighters capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but not live ammunition. Regular jets, surveillance and refueling aircraft also participate regularly.
Planned before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the exercise will involve 14 of the 30 NATO members. The main part of the exercise will take place he more than 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia, the NATO official said.
“Suddenly canceling a long-term scheduled regular exercise sends a very false signal. war in ukraine. Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
“NATO’s decisive and predictable behavior—our military strength—is the best way to prevent escalation,” he said. “If we create grounds for misunderstandings and miscalculations in Moscow about our willingness to protect and defend all our allies, the risk of escalation will increase.”
As Russian troops withdraw after being battered by Ukrainian forces armed with Western weapons, Putin plans to annex four regions of Ukraine and deploy up to 300,000 reservists to bolster the crumbling front. raised the stakes by declaring that it would partially mobilize the
As his war plans failed, Putin repeat signal That we can rely on nuclear weapons to protect our interests. The threat also aims to deter NATO countries from sending more advanced weapons to Ukraine.
NATO as an organization does not own weapons. Nuclear weapons nominally associated with NATO are tightly controlled by three member states: the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The alliance’s clandestine nuclear program group will meet Thursday among defense ministers.
Stoltenberg described Putin’s surge in nuclear rhetoric as “dangerous and reckless” and said the allies were “clearly telling Russia that any use of nuclear weapons would have serious consequences.” emphasized.
“We are closely monitoring Russia’s nuclear arsenal,” Stoltenberg said. “We have not seen any change in Russia’s stance, but remain vigilant.”
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war. https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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