The two-week drills are set to take place over Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the North Sea, testing the alliance's readiness to respond to nuclear threats.

The exercises, held yearly for the past decade, will simulate scenarios involving aircraft equipped to carry nuclear weapons. While no warheads will be used, the drills aim to test the effectiveness of NATO’s deterrence capabilities.

“In an uncertain world, we must test our defense and strengthen it so that our enemies know NATO is ready and capable of responding to any threat," said NATO’s new secretary general, Mark Rutte.

Steadfast Noon takes place after the Russian president recently hinted that the Kremlin might consider using nuclear weapons in response to conventional military threats supported by nuclear-capable states.

Additionally, Moscow is considering proposals to respond with nuclear weapons to mass missile or drone attacks on Russian territory.

Meanwhile, other NATO exercises, called “Strong Griffin 2024,” are underway in Lithuania, involving over 2,500 soldiers and 250 military vehicles from Lithuania, the United States, the United Kingdom and Poland.

The drills focus on training troops for defensive operations in coordination with NATO forces.