Norway hosting the world’s largest warship, the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, in its waters over the next four days, is an illogical and harmful show of force, the Russian Embassy to Oslo said.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is 333 metres long, 76 metres high, weighing around 100,000 tonnes. In addition to a crew of 4,500 people, the ship carries 90 aeroplanes and helicopters. Oslo is likely the first harbour the massive ship will visit as it is bound to conduct several exercises with the Norwegian Army.
“The aircraft carrier group’s visit and presence gives the Armed Forces a unique opportunity to further develop cooperation and work more closely with our most important ally, the United States.” the Norwegian Armed Forces wrote in a press release.
“Several exercises are planned with the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Norwegian Special Forces, among others.”, they added.
Somewhat predicting Russia’s reaction and displaying a resolutely pro-NATO position, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told NTB that “there will be predictable reactions from Russia to this, but we welcome allies to practise in Norwegian waters.”
The prime minister added that Norway is continuing along the same lines as it has done over the past year, noting that the visit shows that NATO is present at sea.
The Kremlin quickly criticised the move as the Russian embassy in Oslo called it an “illogical show of force”.
“There are no issues in the north that require a military solution. Nor are there issues that require external intervention”, the embassy wrote on Facebook.
“Considering that it is admitted in Oslo that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, this type of show of force seems both illogical and harmful,” it added.
(Charles Szumski | EURACTIV.com)
