CaliToday (13/10/2025): The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commenced its annual nuclear deterrence exercise, "Steadfast Noon," on Monday, October 13. The large-scale drills, centered in the Netherlands and extending across several key air bases in Europe, serve as a demonstration of the Alliance's commitment to a secure and effective nuclear deterrent.
 |
| File photo by Andrew McNeil |
The exercise involves 14 Allied nations and integrates approximately 70 aircraft. NATO has characterized the event as a long-planned, routine training activity designed to ensure the credibility and safety of the Alliance's nuclear posture.
According to a press release from NATO, the exercise is not linked to any current global events and will not involve the use of live nuclear weapons. It is a regular part of the Alliance's training schedule, aimed at maintaining operational readiness and promoting transparency regarding NATO's nuclear doctrine.
"We need to do this because it helps us make sure that our nuclear deterrent remains as credible, safe, secure, and effective as possible," stated NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a speech released on the Friday preceding the exercise.
This year's host nation is the Netherlands, with Volkel Air Base serving as the primary hub for operations. Additional activities are being conducted from Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Belgium and Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. A significant contingent of conventional support aircraft, including refueling and surveillance platforms, is operating from Skrydstrup Air Base in Denmark.
The exercise features a combination of conventional and dual-capable aircraft, alongside command-and-control and air-to-air refueling assets. The participating airframes are drawn from various Allied air forces, showcasing NATO's capability to integrate complex multinational capabilities in nuclear deterrence scenarios.
U.S. Air Force Colonel Daniel Bunch, Chief of Nuclear Operations at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), highlighted the extensive coordination required to execute the event. "All in all, we are looking at roughly 2,000 personnel directly supporting this exercise," he remarked.
In a separate statement, Jim Stokes, NATO's Director of Nuclear Policy, pointed to the broader communication goals associated with the exercise. “It is about promoting transparency when and where appropriate, so that our Allied populations and the wider world have a good understanding of what we are doing,” he said.
Participation in Steadfast Noon rotates annually among Allied nations. By rotating hosting duties and leveraging different national assets each year, the Alliance aims to maintain operational familiarity and political cohesion within its nuclear planning framework.
While NATO has repeatedly stated that the exercise is not connected to any specific international incidents, it takes place at a time of heightened rhetoric from nuclear powers, including Russia, where officials have frequently referenced nuclear capabilities in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
