NATO tells Russia its Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise in Italy is no threat, Politico says
In short
NATO is trying to reassure Russia that its Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise in Italy, set for October 13 to 23, poses no threat, Russian outlets reported on October 9, citing Politico. NATO nuclear policy director Nassima Barrouz (Нассима Барроуз) said the annual exercise sends a clear signal to countries such as Russia that there is nothing to worry about. A NATO official said the drills would involve no live nuclear weapons.
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NATO is trying to reassure Russia that its upcoming nuclear exercise in Italy poses no threat, Russian outlets reported on October 9, citing Politico. The Steadfast Noon exercise will be held from October 13 to 23, and 17 member countries will take part, according to Interfax and Kommersant. Interfax reported that NATO announced the dates and participants on Thursday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
"We hold them every year, and this is also a clear signal to countries like Russia that there is nothing to worry about," NATO nuclear policy director Nassima Barrouz (Нассима Барроуз) said, according to the reports. Interfax quoted her as saying the exercise is "predictable" and there is "no reason for miscalculation", and that its purpose is to prepare allied forces to be ready at any moment and to keep NATO's nuclear capability safe. RIA Novosti described the drills as intended to maintain readiness and practise procedures needed for NATO deterrence and defence. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Colonel David Bull (Дэвид Булл), head of NATO nuclear operations, said the exercise is planned and does not involve real nuclear warheads. According to Interfax, he said roughly the same number of countries take part as in previous years and the drills range from simulated combat readiness to live-fire flights. Kommersant reported that dual-capable aircraft and ground troops will practise loading, refuelling and servicing equipment and fly simulated sorties. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
An unnamed senior NATO official told Politico that the alliance would continue trying to defuse the situation. Kommersant quoted the official as saying the intention was to keep things calm and that Russian officials continue to heighten the tense atmosphere. [ 3 , 4 ]
In Italy, Angelo Bonelli, a deputy from the opposition Alliance of Greens and Left, on Wednesday asked Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to explain why parliament was not notified of the multinational exercise, RIA Novosti reported. He said Steadfast Noon would include a simulation of the use of American nuclear weapons stationed in Europe. [ 2 ]
RIA Novosti also reported that Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE, Dmitry Polyansky, commenting on the alliance's largest command-staff exercises of 2026, said NATO's provocative steps were pushing toward direct war in Europe. Kommersant noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry has spoken of increased NATO military activity near Russia's borders and preparations for an air and sea blockade of the Kaliningrad region, and that in late September the Russian embassy in Ireland said Russia would be ready to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if NATO countries tried to isolate the region. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The reports place the exercise against tension between NATO and Moscow, which RIA Novosti cited Politico as describing. Russian officials quoted in the same coverage accused NATO of provocative steps, and an Italian opposition lawmaker has questioned why parliament was not notified of the drills.
Key facts
- NATO's Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise will take place in Italy from October 13 to 23. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- 17 NATO member countries will take part in the annual exercise, according to Interfax and Kommersant. [ 3 , 4 ]
- NATO nuclear policy director Nassima Barrouz said the exercise is held every year and is a clear signal to countries such as Russia that there is nothing to worry about. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Colonel David Bull, head of NATO nuclear operations, said the exercise does not involve real nuclear warheads. [ 1 , 3 ]
- An unnamed senior NATO official told Politico the alliance would continue trying to defuse the situation. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Italian opposition deputy Angelo Bonelli asked Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to explain why parliament was not notified of the exercise. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Steadfast Noon will be held in Italy from October 13 to 23 as an annual exercise. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- 17 allied countries will take part. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Barrouz said the exercise is a clear signal to countries like Russia that there is nothing to worry about. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The exercise will be conducted without real nuclear weapons. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- A senior NATO official said the alliance would continue efforts to defuse the situation. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Italian parliament was or should have been notified of the exercise. Only RIA Novosti reports Bonelli's demand, and the documents give no response from the defence minister.
- The exact spelling of the NATO nuclear policy director's name. Outlets spell it differently in Russian (Нассима Барроуз and Насима Барроуз), and no document gives an English form.
- Bonelli's statement that the exercise will include a simulation of the use of US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe. Reported by a single outlet and attributed to Bonelli; NATO officials quoted elsewhere describe simulated sorties without nuclear weapons.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports, citing Politico, that NATO is trying to defuse tension before the exercise. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that NATO addressed Russia before the nuclear exercise in Italy. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reports NATO assurances that Steadfast Noon does not threaten Russia. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reports NATO urging Russia not to worry about the drills. [ 4 ]