Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Satellite images showed that the United States has deployed advanced P-8 Poseidon naval reconnaissance aircraft, known as “submarine hunters”, in Norway.
It also carried out sorties near the Russian Kaliningrad region overlooking the Baltic Sea.
This comes amid Russian-American tension that has recently returned to the forefront.
Supporting NATO efforts in the Baltic
Photos showed two or three P-8 Poseidon aircraft at Gardermoen military airport near Oslo on September 23.
These aircraft are used for submarine tracking, intelligence gathering, and monitoring maritime activities.
This is at a time when tensions are intensifying between Moscow and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
A spokesman for the Norwegian Armed Forces Operations Headquarters also confirmed to the local newspaper Dagbladet last Saturday that several American P-8 Poseidon aircraft took off from Gardermoen Airport to support “Allied activities” in areas neighboring Norway.
According to the information, the missions included monitoring Russian activity in the Baltic Sea, especially off Kaliningrad, which is the most important Russian military base in northern Europe.
This comes amid Western concern about Moscow’s threats to undersea infrastructure, such as gas pipelines and internet cables.
In addition to suspicious drone activity in Poland, Denmark and Norway.
political tension
The American move also came after a series of sensitive developments.
Russia has recorded repeated violations of NATO airspace in Northern Europe, which has prompted the alliance to increase its military activity at sea and in the air.
It also followed US President Donald Trump’s recent statements, in which he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “dangerous opponent” but expressed a willingness to “understand.”
At a time when Trump confirmed that Kiev is capable of regaining all its territory.
In addition, American media reported that Trump is considering supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles.
In addition to allowing it to respond deep inside Russia to strikes targeting its facilities.
What is the power of Poseidon?
The most prominent points of superiority of the P-8 Poseidon aircraft lie in the fact that they are equipped with advanced radars and sensor systems to monitor submarines and ships.
It can refuel by air to carry out long patrols over vast areas of the ocean.
It is used by American, British and Norwegian forces as part of a strategy to increase maritime vigilance in what is known as “NATO Lake”, that is, the Baltic Sea, after Finland and Sweden joined the alliance.
All eyes are still on the Pentagon to see whether it will expand its military presence in Europe as part of the NATO-led “Baltic Guard” mission.
In light of the exchange of fiery messages between Washington and Moscow, the Baltic Sea is expected to remain one of the most sensitive theaters in the confrontation between the two parties in the coming months.
