For the first time, the United States sent its B-1B Lancer strategic bombers to an exercise in Russia's neighboring country, Norway. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the statement of General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the European contingent of the US Air Force.
For the United States, he said, exercises with such allies mean greater stability in the region and an opportunity to hone deterrence and defense skills.
The planes were redeployed from Dyce in Texas to Erland Air Force Base in Trendelag County.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova drew attention to the deployment of American bombers near Russia's northern borders. “We drew attention to the information on the preparations for the deployment of a squadron of American strategic bombers at the Norwegian airbase in the Trondheim area in order to conduct joint exercises with the Norwegian Air Force,” the diplomat said. She stressed that Moscow regards such a decision in Oslo as “another step towards increasing military activity in the Far North.”
