[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has commenced its annual nuclear deterrence exercise scheduled for the 17th (local time), despite the ongoing crisis of the Ukraine war.
According to NATO, this year's nuclear deterrence exercise, "Steadfast Noon," which runs from today until the 30th, is hosted by Belgium and involves 14 NATO member countries, including the United States' strategic bomber B-52, with over 60 air units participating.
The training takes place over Belgium, the North Sea, and the skies above the United Kingdom, and no live ammunition is used.
Steadfast Noon is known as a regular exercise designed to test NATO's "nuclear sharing system" operational capabilities under nuclear war scenarios.
The United States is reported to have deployed about 150 B-61 tactical nuclear bombs for air drop across five European countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and T?rkiye, with plans to intensively review operational measures for use in emergencies.
This is interpreted as a move to demonstrate military solidarity among Western countries amid the Ukraine war phase, while indirectly sending a "warning message" to Russia.
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