NATO sets date for nuclear deterrence drill in Italy, with no live weapons
Seventeen allies will join the annual Steadfast Noon exercise from 13 October. NATO says the long-planned activity is not aimed at any country.
NATO says its annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Steadfast Noon, will begin on Tuesday 13 October in Italy. Seventeen allied countries are due to take part. The alliance announced the plan on 8 October and said the overall scale would be similar to previous editions.
What the exercise does — and does not do
The drill tests procedures and readiness connected with NATO’s nuclear deterrent. NATO says no live weapons are used. It describes Steadfast Noon as long-planned, routine training, unrelated to current world events and not directed against a particular country. The announcement therefore does not signal that a nuclear attack or new deployment has been ordered.
Why the announcement matters
The exercise comes amid continuing debate over European defence and the credibility of allied deterrence. Its immediate significance is the confirmed date, location and participation for this year’s training. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the aim is to keep the alliance’s capability safe, secure and effective; that is the alliance’s stated rationale, not evidence of an imminent conflict.
An archive image
The photograph accompanying this report shows a Netherlands F-16 taking off during Steadfast Noon in northern Italy on 17 October 2023. It does not show preparations for the 2026 exercise.
Sources & verification
Sources checked: 9 October 2026
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