According to Reuters, NATO officials on 10th announced that NATO¡¯s annual nuclear exercise ¡°Fort Midnight¡± will start next week, hosted by the Netherlands, with a total of 14 countries sending 71 aircraft to participate.NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in a video recorded at the Walker Air Force Base in the Netherlands that the exercise ¡°sends a clear signal to any potential opponent that we can and will protect all allies from all threats.¡±

Reuters said that in addition to the base in the Netherlands, the air bases in Little Brochel, Belgium, Lakenheath, England and Schlustrup, Denmark will also participate in the exercise. "We need to do this because it helps our nuclear deterrent remain as credible, safe, reliable and effective as possible," Rutte said.

NATO officials also said the exercise did not use nuclear weapons, but simulated scenarios where nuclear weapons might be used.

Reported that NATO's nuclear policy director Jim Stokes told the media that "Firm Noon" was a "routine" exercise that "is not targeted at any country and has nothing to do with real international events."

In recent years, NATO has continuously increased the intensity of nuclear exercises on the grounds of intensifying external threats, which has had a serious impact on the regional situation and global strategic stability. Last year, NATO held the "Firm Noon" nuclear exercise for the third consecutive year since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, involving 2000 soldiers and more than 60 military aircraft from 13 countries. Among them, Finland participated in the competition as a member state for the first time. A total of eight military bases were used for the exercise, and most of the exercises were held in the North Sea, about 900 kilometers away from Russia. In addition, they also included Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other places.