US Aircraft Carrier leading Neptune Strike exercise to strengthen NATO defense

Europe, News, US October 28, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is leading the Neptune Strike 2022 Exercise to enhance NATO Alliance readiness to deter and defend across the Euro-Atlantic area.

More than 80 aircraft, 14 naval ships, and about 6,000 personnel from 24 NATO Allies and partners, including Albania, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States are participating in the exercise.

According to Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, Commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), the exercise is a “prime example of NATO’s ability to integrate high-end maritime warfare capabilities of an allied carrier strike group, ensuring our collective ability to deter and defend.”

“The Neptune series is a tangible demonstration of the power and capability of the NATO Alliance in all domain operations,” Vice Admiral Ishee added.

On October 25 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the Adriatic Sea. Stoltenberg said that the “carrier sends a powerful message of Allied deterrence every day and called “demonstration of U.S. capability and commitment to the Alliance.”

NATO Secretary General called this “a perfect example of the transatlantic bond – Europe and North America working together in NATO.” He said that the deployment “demonstrates our ability to rapidly reinforce our Allies, and project power across the Alliance”. Stoltenberg added that NATO’s “strength helps to prevent any miscalculation by sending a clear message: NATO will protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.”

During his visit, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg addressed the ship’s crew and met sailors and pilots, thanking them all for their service and dedication.

*^{NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the Adriatic Sea on October 25, 2022. (Image Credit: NATO/Erik Luntang)}*

Stoltenberg also held meetings with senior military leaders including Admiral Stuart Munsch, Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Vice-Admiral Thomas Ishee, Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO and Commander U.S. Sixth Fleet; Rear Admiral James Morley, Deputy Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO; Rear Admiral Dennis Velez, Commander of Carrier Strike Group Ten and the George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group; and Captain David-Tavis Pollard, Commanding Officer of the carrier.

NATO Secretary General also addressed recent claims by Russia that Ukraine is preparing to use a radiological “dirty bomb” on its own territory, and said that “NATO Allies reject this transparently false allegation.” Stoltenberg stressed that Russia “must not use false pretexts for further escalation.”

According to the NATO release, Stoltenberg condemned Iran’s military support to the Russian war effort, saying “no country should be helping the aggressor in an illegal war,” and welcomed the sanctions that Allies and the European Union are implementing on Tehran.