OSLO: The Russian embassy in Norway issued a strong condemnation on Tuesday regarding the planned visit of a US aircraft carrier, calling it an “illogical and harmful” display of force.
The USS General Ford, measuring 337 meters (1,106 feet) in length, is scheduled to dock in the Norwegian capital this week.
Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told a foreign news agency, “There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention.
Considering that Oslo admits that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and harmful.”
The USS General Ford is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a displacement of over 100,000 tonnes. The US Navy announced in early May that the ship had embarked on its “first combat deployment” following a shorter two-month deployment in autumn 2022.
Norway Declares US Aircraft Carrier’s Visit Positive
Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram, who visited the massive warship, expressed positivity regarding the visit, stating, “The fact that a new aircraft carrier is now making its first visit to Norwegian waters is very positive for our cooperation with the Americans,” during an interview with news agency NTB.
Relations between Norway, a NATO member, and Russia, with whom it shares a border in the Far North, have significantly deteriorated following the invasion of Ukraine.
