NATO kicked off its annual nuclear deterrence exercise on Monday of this week, with dozens of aircraft from across the alliance practicing defense of European member states. The two-week exercise, known as “Steadfast Noon”, involves 14 countries and up to 60 aircraft of various types, including fourth and fifth generation fighters, along with surveillance platforms and tankers. As in previous years, U.S. B-52 bombers will take part. This year, they will fly in from Minot Air Base in North Dakota. Training flights will take place over Belgium (which is hosting this year's exercise), as well as Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the North Sea.
While Steadfast Noon is held annually, this year is unique as the exercise is taking place during the largest conventional war in Europe since World War II, as well as amid a steady stream of nuclear saber rattling from multiple Russian government officials. Additionally, Steadfast Noon is expected to coincide with Russia's own strategic nuclear exercise known as the Grom.
The Grom nuclear exercise is normally held in late October and involves large-scale maneuvers of strategic nuclear forces, as well as missile launches from various carriers. Under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Moscow is required to inform the U.S. about expected missile launches. According to Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder, “We do know that, based on past precedent, the exercise likely will happen soon but there are no notifications at this time."
On Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed their assessment that Iranian military personnel are on the ground in Crimea assisting Russia in conducting drone operations. Both the European Union and United States said they have proof that Iranian Shahed-136 low-cost exploding drones have been used to target civilian centers and critical infrastructure, an accusation both Russia and Iran have denied.
Curiously, when Ukraine invited UN representatives to examine the wreckage of drones that have been shot down, Russian diplomat Dmitry Polyanskiy warned that the UN does not have the mandate to carry out such an investigation and that a UN probe would force Russia to reassess their collaboration with the international organization. Reuters reports Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface to surface missiles, in addition to more drones, a move that is likely to anger the U.S. and other Western powers.
Also this week, during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told visiting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson that should Sweden or Finland come under any form of pressure as the gears turn in the membership process, it is inconceivable that Allies would not act. Readers may recall that Russia has previously threatened both Sweden and Finland if they were to join NATO.
NATO currently has some 40,000 troops under its direct command in Eastern Europe. NATO’s forward presence include multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
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