US Army sends heavy equipment to Arctic Norwegian port for transfer to Finland
In a manifestation of Nordic NATO unity, more than 200 vehicles and 300 containers are sent from the USA to Narvik and further to an allied exercise in Finland.
The 227 meter long vehicle carrier Arc Integrity on the 24th of April made port call in the Narvik Harbour. On board was several hundred pieces of equipment that are to be applied in a series of NATO training operations in northern Europe.
The equipment belongs to the US Army 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division and will be applied in the allied exercise Immediate Response 2024 (IR24). The exercise includes allied training in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Czechia and Poland in the period between 21st of April – 31st of May, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs.
More than 24,000 troops are to participate, of them 10,000 from the US Army.
In Narvik, the equipment will be put on trains for transportation to Sweden and further to Finland.
New NATO memberships now allow transport across Nordic borders
The entry into the alliance of Sweden and Finland now opens up for smooth transportation of allied goods and personnel across the Nordic borders.
“As part of the IR24, Norway practices its role as transit country for allied troops that are heading to Sweden and Finland,” representatives of the Norwegian Armed Forces say.
As soon as the military transport moves across the border from Narvik to Sweden, the Swedish Armed Forces are ready to act.
“During the Immediate Response, American units will under guidance of the Swedish Armed Forces move from the border to Norway, through Norbotten and to Borden. Thereafter, the transport will proceed to Finland via Haparanda and Pello,” the Swedish Military informs.
The logistic operation is expected to last about a week.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada pledges billions for defence, falls short of NATO’s 2%, CBC News
Denmark: Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Military exercise apparently disrupts weather images from Lapland, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland authorizes U.S. submarine service visits, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Against Russian aggression: Norway signs security agreement with Ukraine, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia signs MoU with Chinese navy, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: U.S. nominates Alaskan as first Arctic ambassador, Eye on the Arctic
