Russia’s embassy in Norway criticized the planned visit of a US aircraft carrier to Oslo, calling it an “illogical and harmful” show of force. The USS General Ford is scheduled to dock in the Norwegian capital this week, but Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov said that there are no issues in the North that require a military solution or outside intervention. He added that since Oslo admits Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and harmful.
The first-in-class aircraft carrier is a nuclear-powered ship with a displacement of over 100,000 tonnes. The US Navy announced that the ship had departed Norfolk on its first combat deployment in early May. Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said on a visit to the massive warship that the fact that a new aircraft carrier is now making its first visit to Norwegian waters is very positive for their cooperation with the Americans.
Relations between NATO member Norway and Russia have deteriorated sharply in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
