In a context of tension due to the war in Ukraine, “the Nordic countries have to show that we are united.”
Military exercises to face the worst possible scenario: that of war with a powerful neighbor.
The armies of Finland, Norway and Sweden have been participating since Monday in the Arctic Challenge Exercise, in which their air forces carry out combat training with different aircraft.
Martin Tesli, colonel and commander of Airwing 132, Oerlandet Air Base, explains the extra importance of the maneuvers this year “because there is a change in Europe, we have a war. The Nordic countries have to show that we are united, and that is what we are doing with this exercise”.
The exercises conclude on June 9. An example of the importance of these maneuvers is the possible participation of the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, the largest warship ever built. She navigates the area and has 4,500 US military personnel and 75 combat aircraft on board.