Russia angered by visit to Norway of largest US aircraft carrier
The USS Gerald R Ford visits Oslo ahead of expected military exercises in the Arctic.
Russia calls a visit by the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, to Oslo, Norway, an “illogical and damaging” display of force at a time of heightened tensions.
In a show of NATO firepower, the 337-meter nuclear-powered ship sailed for the first time under escort into the Oslofjord on Wednesday, where it will remain for several days before heading to the Arctic for military exercises, according to Norwegian media.
The much-publicized visit, which comes amid tensions between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine, was denounced by the Russian embassy in Norway.
NATO member Norway shares a land border with Russia and a maritime border in the Barents Sea.
“There are no questions in the [Arctic] north that require a military solution, nor topics that require outside intervention,” the Russian embassy in Olso said in a Facebook post.
Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told the French news agency AFP that the demonstration of military might in Norway was baffling and unwelcome.
“Given that Oslo admits that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such violence seems illogical and harmful,” he told AFP in an email.
A massive airspace and sea no-fly zone has been imposed around the USS Gerald R Ford, which can carry up to 90 planes and helicopters and is expected to remain docked in the Norwegian capital for several days.
“This is Norway’s security. It is a clear expression of the security guarantees we have through NATO, not least the close cooperation and partnership we have with the United States,” Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in a statement from the U.S. navy.
🇺🇸🤝🇳🇴
First U.S. aircraft carrier in 65 years to visit Norway — the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier #CVN78 arrived in Oslo, Norway, for a scheduled port visit, May 24.https://t.co/84S1D54JkP
— USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) (@Warship_78) May 24, 2023
According to the online daily Barents Observer, the ship will depart for the Arctic a few days before the start of the Arctic Challenge exercise on May 29, carrying 150 aircraft and 3,000 military personnel from 14 Western countries.
The war games will be held from near the Russian border in the east to the coast of the Norwegian Sea in the west, the paper reported.
The Norwegian military said in a statement that the arrival of the Gerald R Ford – the US Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier – would provide Norway with “a unique opportunity” to develop cooperation and work closely with its main ally. country.
The Norwegian military and NATO allies have been patrolling offshore oil and gas platforms since late last year, after mysterious explosions that hit Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea were believed to be sabotage, though those responsible have yet to be tracked down . identified.
Last year, Norway became Europe’s largest gas supplier following a drop in Russian gas flows due to the political and economic fallout from Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Norway said on Wednesday it will support US training programs for Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.
“The government supports this initiative and is considering how Norway can contribute together with allies and partners,” Defense Minister Gram said.
But Norway has not yet decided whether it will give one of its F-16 jets to Ukraine, the minister told public broadcaster NRK separately.