Foreign relations of the Soviet Union

The Turkish navy is conducting a maritime exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean with the participation of 16 NATO countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on October 17 that during his meeting with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in September, he conveyed the necessity for Ukraine to join NATO, or else it would seek to develop nuclear weapons for its defense, as per reports from the Kyiv Independent.

NATO will need between 35 and 50 additional brigades to fully implement its new defense plans to counter a potential Russian attack, according to a military source who spoke to Reuters. Each brigade comprises between 3,000 and 7,000 soldiers. Creating these additional combat units represents a significant challenge.

NATO is considering putting more nuclear weapons on standby amid growing threats from Russia and China. Alliance head Jens Stoltenberg told "The Telegraph" that NATO must display its nuclear arsenal to send a clear signal to its adversaries. He revealed that consultations are ongoing among NATO members to remove missiles from storage and place them on alert.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened Poland with the prospect of "radioactive ash" in response to comments by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski about the use of nuclear weapons. Sikorski had suggested to the British newspaper "Guardian" how the United States might react if Russia used nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Monday he was open to allowing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in wartime, as critics call for the new NATO member to ban their deployment.

French President Emmanuel Macron has ignited controversy by calling for France's nuclear arsenal to be integrated into the European defense discourse. Macron's remarks, made in an interview with regional newspapers, have drawn criticism from political opponents ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.

In a display of steadfast alliance and strategic cooperation, the Bulgarian and American air forces have launched joint exercises aimed at enhancing their readiness and coordination in the Black Sea region. The maneuvers, which involve simulated strikes on ground targets, highlight a continued commitment to NATO's collective defense amidst regional tensions.

NATO is increasing its military presence in the Atlantic and Arctic regions. This is the first phase of the major military exercise "Steadfast Defender 2024", which will last until mid-March. From mid-February to the end of May, military personnel from the Arctic and the Eastern Flank will also be trained. Nearly 90,000 military personnel are participating in the exercise.

NATO has strongly condemned Russia's withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), a historic document that played a crucial role in balancing arms control between NATO and former Warsaw Pact states after the Cold War. The treaty, signed in 1990, aimed to maintain stability and limit the deployment of conventional military equipment in Europe.