NATO Secretary General will visit Washington D.C. next week

USPA NEWS - On June 12-13, 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will travel to Washington D.C. He is meeting with the President of the United States, Joe Biden; the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and members of the Senate NATO Observer Group (SNOG).

Recently, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford came under NATO command and is currently taking part in a series of planned maritime security activities and training with the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (SFN) in the Norwegian Sea. This demonstrates the Alliance’s ability to integrate the high-end capabilities of a US first-in-class carrier, its strike group escorts, and embarked air wing.

“This transfer of authority to Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (SFN) demonstrates the Alliance’s ability to integrate the high-end capabilities of a first-in-class carrier U.S., its strike group escorts, and embarked air wing during a series of planned maritime security activities and training,” said NATO in a press release. Norway is the host nation for these events, which will take place from this week.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61).

“Concerted, collaborative efforts such as Gerald R. Ford’s seamless transition to NATO command reinforce the interchangeability of Allied Forces and the agility of NATO command and control structures. This transfer of authority constitutes a tangible, transparent display of advanced capabilities in all-domain operations and the defensive commitment of the NATO Alliance across Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) Area of Responsibility,” NATO added. NATO last assumed command of a U.S. carrier strike group in March 2023 during USS George H. W. Bush’s scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and participation in Neptune Strike 2023.