The American warship left the Oslofjord on Monday morning. It’s going north. Now the crew will probably be practicing submarine hunting and shooting down missiles. According to what news learns, the ship will participate in the Arctic Challenge Exercise in the Vesterålen area. – Can the Minister of Defense confirm that? – I do not go into the exact operating pattern. But we look forward to Norway and other allies training well alongside the Americans during this visit, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) to news. Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) Photo: news Provocation for the Russians? Vesterålen is located at 68 degrees north. Experts say the limit for how far the huge ship can sail before it will be seen as a provocation by the Russians is in Tromsø. In other words, at 69 degrees north. The Minister of Defense is not afraid that “USS Gerald R. Ford’s” participation in military exercises in the north will provoke Russia. – There is no reason to believe that there will be an activity that will in any way be provocative to Russia or others. It is common for American and allied presence in Norwegian waters to practice and train. It is part of the normal picture. It is something Norway welcomes, says Gram. The journey continues to NATO exercises in northern Norway. NATO and 13 nations are participating in the Arctic Challenge Exercise, which is part of Nordic defense cooperation. It is the biggest air exercise in Europe this year. The exercise has taken place every two years since 2013, and this year it will be practiced over the North Calotte from four bases. Rovaniemi and Pirkkala in Finland, Kalix in Sweden and Ørland in Norway – and from the American aircraft carrier. Martin Tesli, manager at Ørland air station. Photo: Ingrid LIndgaard Stranden / news The commander of Ørlandet air station says the exercise is bigger and more important than ever. – There is a change in Europe. It’s war. We in the Nordics have to show that we stand together. We do that with this exercise, says Martin Tesli, commander of 132 Air Wing and Ørlandet air station. – Signs of hostility While the American aircraft carrier has been lying in the Oslo Fjord for five days, it has received a lot of attention. Many onlookers followed the aircraft carrier’s journey from Oslo. Photo: Storm Pessl-Kleiven / news The Americans have willingly shown the ship to the Norwegian press. But the backdrop for the visit is serious. The visit has been interpreted as a sign that the US wants to show presence and deterrence in the north. It is perceived as a provocation against Russia, something researcher Stein Tønnesson, among others, has pointed out. – It helps to further intensify the Russian reaction against Norway and NATO. Russia will definitely see both this fleet visit and the exercise in the Atlantic afterwards, as a sign of hostility towards Russia, says Tønnesson, who is a researcher at The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Stein Tønnesson, is a researcher at The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Photo: Philip Lote / news Increased Russian presence? The Minister of Defense tells news that he does not fear an increased Russian presence with submarines or otherwise in Norwegian waters during the exercise. – I don’t think there should be any reason for that. It probably happens that the Russians are out with vessels when Norway and its allies are training. It is an activity we see in the north, says Gram. Gram says Norway needs the Americans to participate in exercises in Norwegian waters – also in northern Norway. – It is incredibly important that the US is in our areas, gets to know the geography and weather and climate conditions, and that we can train well as a team, he says. The Minister of Defense says that the exercise is also a clear signal from NATO to Russia. – For us, it is important that we have the same understanding of the situation as our allies. That we clearly show that we look after our waters and are able to operate with our allies, he says The world’s largest warship USS Gerald R. Ford is on its way out of the Oslofjord. Many turned up to take a look and some came close enough to be told to back off.
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The defense chief does not fear a reaction from Russia on the “USS Gerald R. Ford” in the north – news Troms and Finnmark
