BRUSSELS—NATO said on Friday it would launch its annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Monday, with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over Belgium, the North Sea and Britain to practise the use of U.S. nuclear bombs based in Europe.
The nuclear drills—which do not involve live bombs—are taking place amid heightened tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia’s “territorial integrity.”
