NATO to hold nuclear deterrence exercise as Russia rages at Ukraine

An annual NATO exercise focused on nuclear weapons deterrence will take place next week in a regular show of force displayed against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

“Now is the right time to be firm and to be clear that NATO is there to protect and defend all allies,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian politician, told reporters Tuesday. “It’s a routine exercise, and it’s an exercise to ensure that our nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, and effective.”

www.washingtonexaminer.com...

Posted to remind any alarmists that this is an ANNUAL, regular exercise. That said, an interesting debate might ensue for those that feel that this exercise should have been cancelled, based on the grounds that nuclear assets and protection forces should not be out playing games at a time like this. They should be on high alert watch and in a state of readiness, with all focus on any attempted movement of Russian nuclear assets.

I dunno. What do you think?

Europe bristling with weapons.
I understand that it is a defensive gesture, but Russia and the Soviet Union before them has viewed anti missile systems as provocative. I understand why that is. A good anti missile system neuters a country that relies on nuclear weapons as a deterrent to a general war.
This is not a move for the better.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I think it's somewhat of a response to Putin saying he was going to test nuclear weapons on Ukraine’s borders.

kyivindependent.com...

I also think the timing is stupid for both sides and could possibly lead to escalations should anything happen to go amiss.

Just a gang flexing.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: TrueAmerican

I think it's somewhat of a response to Putin saying he was going to test nuclear weapons on Ukraine’s borders.

kyivindependent.com...

I also think the timing is stupid for both sides and could possibly lead to escalations should anything happen to go amiss.

I have never seen more lies and propaganda then the Kyiv Independents Twitter page, it's downright laughable some of the things they post on there. Better source then this out there?

a reply to: MisguidedAngel

Here you go.

www.thetimes.co.uk...
www.telegraph.co.uk...
tfiglobalnews.com...

Hope those help.

Nothing more fun than poking the bear with a sharp stick.

With all the Nuke talk it's like everyone agreed on a war but are giving each other a few practice shots to warm up before the game starts .

Guess I'm stocking up on P.I it's going to happen in one way or the other you the fire is smoking .

originally posted by: butcherguy
Europe bristling with weapons.
I understand that it is a defensive gesture, but Russia and the Soviet Union before them has viewed anti missile systems as provocative. I understand why that is. A good anti missile system neuters a country that relies on nuclear weapons as a deterrent to a general war.
This is not a move for the better.

But weekly nuclear threats and invading Ukraine is a move for the better?

a reply to: butcherguy

bg,

In a situation with rational actors, your argument would have merit.

Putin is not rational. No matter what one does to placate him, he will come for more.

We've seen this movie already. And Putin is playing his role to the hilt.

Cheers

Like the OP said they do it every year of course they are going to do it when it fits the narrative please note the date of last year's exercise. Got to justify all those NATO dollars and a great way to justify the expenditure on Fortress Ukraine that bastion of democracy and freedom that it is

Make sure the public knows we are doomed we are all doomed, if COVID doesn't get you the nuclear boogeyman will, jeez people haven't we learned to take the government's messages with at least a grain of salt?

Like we are supposed to believe our intelligence communities didn't see Ukraine as a potential nuclear conflict for the last 10 years if not longer.

www.nato.int...

18 Oct. 2021 -|Last updated: 18 Oct. 2021 11:20
EnglishFrenchRussianUkrainian
NATO kicked off its annual deterrence exercise on Monday (18 October 2021), with dozens of aircraft from across the Alliance practicing the defence of NATO’s European Allies. The week-long exercise, called “Steadfast Noon”, is taking place over southern Europe, and involves aircraft and personnel from 14 NATO countries.

originally posted by: TritonTaranis

originally posted by: butcherguy
Europe bristling with weapons.
I understand that it is a defensive gesture, but Russia and the Soviet Union before them has viewed anti missile systems as provocative. I understand why that is. A good anti missile system neuters a country that relies on nuclear weapons as a deterrent to a general war.
This is not a move for the better.

But weekly nuclear threats and invading Ukraine is a move for the better?

Of course I didn’t say anything like that.

An irrational dictator started this current situation, which is a bad situation, and I think we need to be careful.

Imagine that, I think it would be prudent to be careful, rather than poking the irrational guy that is threatening the use of nuclear weapons.
What in the world was I thinking?

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I dunno. What do you think?

With a wounded animal backed into a corner and threating pre-emptive strikes it makes sense to hold the exercise , canceling would send the wrong message.

originally posted by: gortex
With a wounded animal backed into a corner and threating pre-emptive strikes it makes sense to hold the exercise , canceling would send the wrong message.

Well, Putin DID want to test Poseidon... All those nice juicy NATO nuclear forces, with no live ammo onboard, all in one place... How utterly tempting.

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: TrueAmerican

I dunno. What do you think?

With a wounded animal backed into a corner and threating pre-emptive strikes it makes sense to hold the exercise , canceling would send the wrong message.

Did you intend to sound like you were describing Zelensky?


Are you so misinformed you actually think it is Putin calling for a preemptive nuclear strike?

Do please show me the video where Putin does exactly what Zelensky is doing in the video I provided...

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Yep, i cant think of one practice, drill, exercise or "game" that hasnt gone live in the past 100 years.



Not...a....one...

/s

a reply to: JinMI

There are hundreds of exercises every year, around the world. You're saying that every single one of them has gone live? There are dozens in the US alone every year.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: JinMI

There are hundreds of exercises every year, around the world. You're saying that every single one of them has gone live? There are dozens in the US alone every year.

Is that what I said Zaph?

Could that even begin to be implied from my above comment?

Just a few spring to mind actually. 9/11, Boston Bombing, Las Vegas festival shooting etc.

Heard that this morning bought a bottle of irish whiskey on the way home.

who would have thought the wheels would come off the bus this fast.

a reply to: JinMI

You said you couldn't "think of one practice, drill, exercise or "game" that hasnt gone live in the past 100 years." So yes, it could be implied from your statement. There have been times when things happened around exercises, but with so many happening every year, it's not really surprising. The 9/11 exercises wouldn't have made much difference, beyond the few minutes of confusion. The fighters that would have been launched to try to stop the aircraft were still on the ground, and only lost a couple minutes. There weren't enough of them thanks to cuts in the 90s that reduced them to the bare minimum they decided were needed.