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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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The United States and its NATO ally Norway staged a show of force with naval ships and aircraft on Russia's doorstep in the contested Arctic region last week.
"The U.S. Navy invests in collective defense with responsible regional partners to create conditions that minimize conflict and promote opportunities for peace and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic," a U.S. Navy spokesperson said in a statement to Newsweek on Saturday.
Newsweek has contacted Russia's defense and foreign ministries for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The U.S.-Norway operation—which took place in the North Cape fjord in the Barents Sea—comes after NATO maritime patrol aircraft were tracked searching for possible Russian submarines that could approach a U.S. aircraft carrier group operating near Norway.
In its annual assessment report on security challenges, the Norwegian Intelligence Service warned that Russia—which operates dozens of military bases in the Arctic—would increase its focus on the Nordic countries in response to NATO enlargement to Sweden and Finland.
The Barents Sea is part of the Arctic Ocean located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia, where the Russian Northern Fleet frequently operates. Last October, two American destroyers conducted "maritime operations" in international waters within the Barents Sea.
What To Know
Photos released by the U.S. Navy show that a pair of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—USS Mahan and USS Bainbridge—transited the North Cape fjord above the Arctic Circle with two Norwegian naval vessels, while three Norwegian military aircraft flew overhead on Friday.
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Norwegian units that participated in the operation were the frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl and the replenishment oiler HNoMS Maud, as well as a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and two F-35 stealth fighters, which were acquired from Boeing and Lockheed Martin, respectively.
The straight-line distance between the North Cape and the Norway-Russia border to the east is 150 miles. The Mahan and the Bainbridge were assigned to a naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, which departed from the U.S. East Coast for deployment on June 24.
The U.S. Navy spokesperson also confirmed to Newsweek that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group operated alongside the Norwegian military to demonstrate collective deterrence and commitment to defend the Euro-Atlantic region from "hostile action."
The Gerald R. Ford, the Mahan, and the Bainbridge transited the Strait of Dover—which lies between the United Kingdom and France—into the North Sea from the English Channel on August 17. They joined the Thor Heyerdahl and the Maud in the North Sea on August 23.
The American aircraft carrier remained in the North Sea as of Thursday, while its fighter jets were deployed to Ørland Air Base in Central Norway the previous day. The U.S. Navy said these operations aimed at supporting warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness.
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What People Are Saying
The U.S. Navy said on Thursday: "Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region."
The Norwegian Armed Forces said in a post on social media platform X on August 24: "Training with our allies strengthens security in our region. Alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, Norwegian forces are building interoperability and readiness—ensuring we stand stronger together when it matters most."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will send additional military units to Northern Europe while it pressures Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
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