Nato, nuclear exercise on Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and the North Sea. Italy is also involved

Angus Lapsley, Nato's Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, said the exercise is intended to demonstrate that the Alliance's ability to counter any threat to its 32 member countries is credible and something that "any adversary should take extremely seriously". Lapsley added that the Atlantic Alliance has been monitoring the emergence of North Korea as a nuclear power, the rapid expansion of China's nuclear capabilities, and developments in Iran - 'but obviously what we are most concerned about is Russia'. Lapsley recalled that Moscow has been investing in its nuclear forces 'with increasing intensity' over the past two years, and that it is 'introducing many new systems and placing greater emphasis on investment in short- and medium-range weapon systems'. Russia, he added, has recently 'talked a lot about its nuclear doctrine and how it may or may not evolve'. And he concluded: it seems to be 'a rather clear attempt to influence us' when it comes to supporting Ukraine.

Putin and other Kremlin figures have often threatened the West with Russia's nuclear arsenal. In a strong new warning late last month, Putin declared that a conventional attack on Russia by any country with the backing of a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack. The threat was intended to deter the US and its allies from allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with longer-range weapons and appears to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russia's nuclear arsenal. But the Atlantic Alliance has seen no real change in Moscow's nuclear strategy. Upon taking office on 1 October, Rutte stressed that although Putin's nuclear rhetoric is 'reckless and irresponsible', there is no evidence that Russia has decided to go nuclear.