The US government will pay for all facilities it builds on Norwegian soil, and will not permanently base any troops there, officials in Oslo were quick to point out.
By Paul McLearyIt’s sort of like we’re exclusively dating. We agreed to not see other people right now but we haven’t committed to anything else yet,” explained one Lockheed Martin official.
By Theresa Hitchens“I guess if someone were to take a message [from the basing agreement] it’s that we’re not restricted to one particular location,” said Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander of Air Forces in Europe/Africa.
By Paul McLeary“We’ll have communications capability up there within the next year or so,” said NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck.
By Theresa Hitchens“It’s sort of the same situation in the South China Sea that, when we look at freedom of navigation operations and the ability to operate in international waters, the United States claims the right to be able to do that,” SecNav Kenneth Braithwaite said.
By Paul McLearySMC is “working on innovative relationships with, believe it or not, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and some other places you wouldn’t think of as traditional spacefaring nations,” says Gen. DT Thompson, Space Force vice.
By Theresa Hitchens“The Seawolf deployment, the joint B-52 flights over Norway last month, and our carrier going north of Arctic Circle…all speak to a greater show of US presence in the Arctic/High North,” said Rachel Ellehuus, deputy director of the Europe Program at the Washington-based CSIS.
By Paul McLearyWith one icebreaker down, the US has one left in port — with no new ships scheduled to arrive for years.
By Paul McLearyThe plan will include options to lease new breakers or build new nuclear-powered ships as Russia and China leap ahead of US capabilities in the Arctic.
By Paul McLearyBraithwaite’s travel to Oslo will see him formally relinquish his ambassadorship there, a unique situation that has seen him hold two Senate-confirmed positions simultaneously.
By Paul McLearySOCOM’s first Dry Combat Submersible is undergoing a year of testing by the Navy to work out new technologies, including a new power source, before moving forward.
By Paul McLeary