Europe bracing for Putin’s worst? NATO’s nuclear ghosts take flight as Russia's missiles get ready

NATO has launched its annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Steadfast Noon, in Italy, with 17 member nations participating amid heightened tensions with Russia. The two-week drills involve dual-capable aircraft and ground crews practising nuclear mission procedures, but NATO says no live nuclear weapons will be used and the exercise is not linked to the current tensions with Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia’s ongoing nuclear modernisation is raising further questions about the future of strategic deterrence in Europe.