The surprise deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the High North was almost certainly unexpected for her crew.
The United States has recently completed joint operations with NATO allies Norway, Germany, and France in the “High North” region above Europe, which is seen as increasingly strategically important as Russia has built up its presence, while melting sea ice in the Arctic will open new sea lanes.
The Kremlin has made its intentions clear in recent years, expanding its military footprint, while NATO has sought to contain Moscow’s aggressive actions within the region.
Taking Action in the High North
“The US Navy Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRF GSG) led an allied maritime force with Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM),” the US Sixth Fleet announced. From August 23 until September 8, the US Navy’s newest and largest nuclear-powered support carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), operated alongside regional partners and conducted joint exercises.
“What we’re doing is a building block on the last three years of our US Carrier Strike Groups’ work off the coast of Norway and in the High North seas with the Royal Norwegian Navy. This consistent teamwork has fostered a strong and enduring relationship between our two navies,” explained Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve.
Lanzilotta further stated that joint training enables a “mutual understanding” of the partners’ “naval priorities, perspectives, and methods,” which “ensures efficient and effective work.”
The recent joint operations saw a US Navy surface action group (SAG), led by the Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA Aegis guided missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and the Flight II guided missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG-72), operate alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F-314) and the French Navy FS Aquitaine (D-650). The warships were later joined by the German Navy’s FGS Hamburg (F220).
“The Norwegian Sea and the areas surrounding it must remain free, no matter the cost,” added Royal Norwegian Navy Cmdr. Lars Ole Hoknes, commander of Thor Heyerdahl.
A Change of Plans for the USS Gerald R. Ford
The surprise deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the High North was almost certainly unexpected for her crew. When the warship departed her homeport of Norfolk on June 24, it was expected that it would be the latest US Navy carrier to be rotated to the Middle East to support Israel in the ongoing regional war and oppose the Houthi militants in Yemen.
After all, the Ford had been the first US Navy flattop dispatched to the region in response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel nearly two years ago, and she saw her deployment extended twice before she finally returned to the United States. Washington has since maintained a near-constant presence of carriers deployed either to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden, to deter escalation in the region.
The US Navy has also repeatedly confronted the Houthi militants in Yemen, which, like Hamas, has the support of Iran. In May, Washington reached a tentative truce with the Houthis.
The US Navy’s oldest nuclear-powered supercarrier, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), is operating in the region, having arrived in June. The warship, which is on its likely final deployment before being decommissioned and scrapped, also visited the port of Bahrain last month.
It is unclear if the United States will send an additional carrier to the Middle East following Israel’s attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar, which is likely to escalate tensions and invite retaliation.
The US Navy has been stretched thin in deploying its carriers to the numerous global hotspots—including those in the High North, where it is anything but warm!
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg){kind=link}