NATO to keep close eye on Russia’s upcoming nuclear exercise

NATO will monitor an
expected upcoming Russian nuclear exercise very closely, the
alliance’s chief said on Thursday, in particular in light of
Moscow’s latest nuclear threats related to its conflict in
Ukraine.
“We have monitored Russian nuclear forces for decades and of
course we will continue to monitor them very closely and we will
stay vigilant – also when they now start a new exercise,” NATO
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters.
“What I can say is that this exercise, the Russian
exercise, is an annual exercise. It’s an exercise where they
test and exercise their nuclear forces,” he added, apparently
referring to Russia’s annual Grom exercise that normally takes
place in late October and in which Russia tests its
nuclear-capable bombers, submarines and missiles.
“We will monitor that as we always do. And of course we will
remain vigilant, not least in light of the veiled nuclear
threats and the dangerous rhetoric we have seen from the Russian
side,” Stoltenberg said.