la Repubblica, 18 October, Carolina Drüten, on Welt: European deterrence is dangerously weak. The Alliance is holding nuclear exercises in Italy, in a tense climate. Friction with Moscow. Doubts about the American umbrella. A question, it says, on the continent. Welt’s body sits behind a wall. Our piece is not their verdict. It is Steadfast Noon, which NATO announced on 8 October.

NATO: the annual nuclear-deterrence exercise, from Tuesday 13 October, in Italy. Long planned, routine. No live weapons. Not linked to world events. Not directed against any country. 17 nations. The scale, in line with previous years. Mark Rutte: a defensive alliance; a safe, effective, credible capability; a message of unity. Nassima Barrows, in Il Sole 24 Ore: nuclear in kind, with no atom on the wing.

Il Sole 24 Ore: Aviano, Pordenone; Ghedi, Brescia; and other sites, not only the north. About ten days. 17 allies, against 14 in 2025 and 13 in 2024. Turkey, yes. The United States, aircrew and maintenance. France, out: it is not in the Nuclear Planning Group. NATO welcomes Macron’s “advanced deterrence”, ten European countries, complementary, the Alliance says, not a substitute.

Angelo Bonelli, AVS, Europa Verde: a question to Guido Crosetto, why Parliament was not informed of an exercise of this scale on national territory. Crosetto, a note: available, as always, to report to Parliament. It is not a conviction. It is an opposition question and a minister’s answer.

Welt puts the weakness. NATO puts the routine. Between them, aircraft over Italy, without a live nuclear load. The photograph, Aviano, February 2022, an ACE drill. It is not Steadfast Noon. Until 23 October, if you keep the ten-day calendar, what remains is the sky and two bases. The umbrella, the weakness, the question: in Welt’s mouth, not ours.

Image: Noah Sudolcan, U.S. Air Force, Aviano, 3 February 2022, public domain. An ACE drill, not Steadfast Noon 2026.

Sources consulted: Ecco perché la deterrenza europea è pericolosamente debole. E cosa sta accadendo in Italia — la Repubblica; NATO holds annual nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon — NATO; Esercitazione nucleare NATO in Italia: coinvolte Aviano e Ghedi — Il Sole 24 Ore.