NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear drill starts in Italy on October 13 with 17 allies
NATO’s annual Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise starts in Italy on October 13 and runs for ten days, with 17 allied countries taking part. Aviano and Ghedi air bases are among the sites, and no live nuclear weapons are used. NATO says the drill was planned long ago and targets no country, while an Italian Green lawmaker has asked why parliament was not informed.
Geopolitics··Midday
Steadfast Noon starts in Italy on October 13
NATO’s annual Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise begins in Italy on October 13, with 17 allied countries taking part. The exercise uses no live warheads or ammunition.[1], [2]
The drill lasts ten days. Activities include the Aviano and Ghedi air bases and other locations in the exercise area in Italy, and airspace in neighbouring countries could also be involved. Participating aircraft can fly both conventional and nuclear missions. Colonel David Bull, NATO’s head of nuclear operations, said the exercise needs joint allied contributions and cannot be confined to one country. The Italian air force says it will test procedures, coordination and safety standards without live weaponry.[1]
Participation reaches 17 countries while France stays outside
Participation compares with 14 countries in 2025 and 13 in 2024. Türkiye is among this year’s participants, and the United States is contributing flight crews and maintenance personnel. France stays outside because it does not take part in NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, the alliance forum on nuclear policy.[1]
NATO regards Emmanuel Macron’s forward deterrence initiative, which ten European countries have joined, as complementary to allied nuclear deterrence. Last year’s main host was the Netherlands, with supporting activities in Belgium, the United Kingdom and Denmark.[1]
Russia objects over Kaliningrad while an Italian lawmaker presses Rome
Russia accused NATO in a diplomatic paper of simulating the strategic isolation of Kaliningrad, its exclave. NATO stresses the routine annual character of the drill and says it was planned well in advance, is unrelated to current world events and is not directed against any country.[1]
Nassima Barrows, a NATO nuclear policy official, called it a nuclear exercise despite the different wording in Italy’s first announcement, and said the alliance and Rome agree on its nature. Angelo Bonelli, a lawmaker from Italy’s Greens, announced a parliamentary question to Defence Minister Guido Crosetto asking why parliament had not been informed.[1]
