The “USS Gerald Ford” arrived in Norway, neighboring Russia, on Wednesday. A stopover strongly criticized by Moscow and the Russian Embassy in Norway.
by IM with AFP
Published on
Subscriber-only audio playback
I’USS Gerald Ford, the largest warship in the world, made a stopover in Oslo on Wednesday May 24, much to the chagrin of Russia. The US aircraft carrier, displacing over 100,000 tons, is a next-generation nuclear-powered vessel. He anchored in the Oslo fjord in the middle of the day before taking part, in a few days, in military exercises which, according to local media, should take him to the Arctic.
“It is the concrete expression of our close relationship with the United States and it demonstrates the will for collective defense and deterrence,” commented Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
For its part, the Norwegian army said it saw in the arrival of the American carrier battle group “a unique opportunity to develop cooperation and work more closely with our main ally, the United States”.
This high-profile stopover, which comes amidst tensions between the West and Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, was blasted by the Russian embassy.
“There is no issue in the north that requires a military solution, nor any issues where outside intervention is needed,” embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov said in a statement. an email to AFP on Tuesday.
“Given the acceptance in Oslo that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such displays of force appear illogical and damaging,” he added.
198 km of common border
Norway, a member of NATO and a major energy producer, and Russia share 198 km of land border in the Far North as well as a long border in the Barents Sea. This is the first visit by an American aircraft carrier to the Scandinavian country for sixty-five years.
“Norway is a strategic partner in our ongoing efforts to keep the Arctic and North Atlantic region secure for the benefit of the global order,” said US Carrier Strike Group Commander Erik Eslich.
READ ALSONorway: the country raises its military alert levelLong of more than 335 meters and being able to transport up to 90 planes and helicopters, the juggernaut must stop in the Norwegian capital for a few days.
A large air and sea interdiction zone has been set up around the ship.
According to the online newspaper Barents Observer, it should then set course for the Arctic Circle. On May 29, the Arctic Challenge Exercise will begin in the region, aerial maneuvers bringing together some 150 aircraft from 14 Western countries.