Last night, 4,500 American soldiers landed in the port of Oslo, according to the local press. They were on the world’s largest warship, the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which dropped anchor in the Norwegian capital on Wednesday morning, in a gesture intended to demonstrate NATO’s strength against Russia.
The new generation aircraft carrier, which weighs more than 100,000 tons and is nuclear powered, will stay in Norwegian waters until Tuesday May 30. He will then continue his journey to the Arctic, where he is expected to carry out training exercises with the Norwegian armed forces. It is the first time that a US aircraft carrier has visited the Scandinavian country in 65 years.
“It is the concrete expression of our close relationship with the United States and demonstrates the will to defend and collectively deter,” Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said.
For its part, the Norwegian army says that the arrival of the US ship is “a unique opportunity to develop cooperation and work more closely with our main ally, the United States.”
In Russian eyes, the move has been read as an intimidating gesture that escalates pre-existing tension between the West and Russia over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow’s representatives in Norway have criticized the events: “There is no problem in the North that requires a military solution, nor any problem in which external intervention is needed,” embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov said in statements to the AFP agency. “Since Oslo recognizes that Russia does not pose a direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and damaging,” he added.
NATO member Norway and Russia share a 198 km land border in the far north, and a long sea border in the Barents.
“Norway is a strategic partner in our ongoing efforts to keep the Arctic and North Atlantic region secure for the benefit of world order,” US Carrier Strike Group Commander Erik Eslich said.
The maritime giant, which is more than 335 meters long and can carry up to 90 planes and helicopters, will rest in the Norwegian capital for a few days. Meanwhile, a large air and sea interdiction zone has been established around the ship.
According to AFP sources, the ship will arrive at the Arctic Circle before May 29 to begin exercises in the region for Exercise Arctic Challenge, with some 150 aircraft from 14 Western countries.
