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RUSSIA

US aircraft carrier visit to Norway angers Russia

Russia's embassy in Norway on Tuesday harshly criticised a planned visit by a US aircraft carrier to Oslo as an "illogical and harmful" show of force.

Published: 23 May 2023 16:57 CEST
Pictured is the USS Gerald R. Ford
A F/A-18E Super Hornet is caught by the Advance Arresting Gear as it lands on the flight deck of the USS Gerald Ford in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the US on October 6, 2022. The USS Gerald Ford is the first new aircraft carrier to be designed in 40 years and and is the worlds largest and most expensive warship ever built. The Ford took 14 years to build and test and is fitted with 23 new technologies including an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advance Weapons Elevators (AWE’s). (Photo by Samuel Corum / AFP)

The 337-metre (1,106-foot) USS General R. Ford is scheduled to dock in the Norwegian capital this week.

“There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention,” Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told AFP by email.

“Considering that Oslo admits that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and harmful,” he added.

The first-in-class aircraft carrier is a nuclear-powered ship with a displacement of more than 100,000 tonnes.

The US Navy announced in early May that the ship had departed Norfolk on its “first combat deployment”, following a shorter two-month deployment in the autumn of 2022.

“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,”

Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram told news agency NTB while on a visit to the massive warship.

Relations between NATO member Norway and Russia — with which the Scandinavian country shares a border in the Far North — have deteriorated
sharply in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

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POLITICS

Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

The Norwegian intelligence service, PST, has revealed the presence of multiple Russian agents operating in western Norway.

Published: 3 May 2024 10:43 CEST
Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

Torgils Lutro, head of PST Vest, disclosed in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that these agents may have been preparing for acts of sabotage.

NRK noted that potential targets could have included Haakonsvern, northern Europe’s largest naval base, as well as crucial oil, gas, and power facilities in the region.

Lutro said that Russian agents were focused on gathering intelligence on critical infrastructure, military installations, and Norwegian preparedness routines.

While the exact number of exposed agents remains undisclosed, the PST has previously warned about the risks posed by Russian espionage and that espionage activity has heightened since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“In Vestland (County), we have strongly suspected, but have also uncovered, hostile and unwanted Russian intelligence activities since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022,” Lutro said.

Russia’s motives

The PST Vest chief suggested that Russia aimed to tarnish Norway’s reputation among its allies.

“It’s evident that one of Russia’s objectives is to portray us in a negative light. They seek to demonstrate that we lack control over our own affairs or that we’re unable to support our allies during future crises,” he said.

Following the war in Ukraine, Norwegian authorities have expelled over 15 people from the Russian embassy in Norway over suspected espionage.

This has prompted Russia to reassess its intelligence personnel and resources, according to the PST.

“Identifying these agents isn’t straightforward. They blend into society, which is part of their job. They may not even hold Russian citizenship, but are motivated by factors like money or threats,” Lutro said.

The PST has consistently highlighted Russian intelligence activities as a growing threat to Norway’s security in its annual threat assessments, including the most recent one in 2024.

“We’ve employed various methods to uncover these activities, and in some instances, we have a clear understanding of how they operate,” Lutro said.

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