The US Navy (USN) has conducted its first visit to Finland since the Northern European country became a member of the NATO alliance.
In late September, the USN’s CG-47 Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) visited Finland’s capital Helsinki, which is situated on the Baltic Sea. Alongside defence engagement and ship logistics tasks, the visit encompassed exercising with the Finnish Navy.
Normandy and its ship’s company were hosted by various Finnish Defence Forces personnel and organisations, including the Finnish Navy’s Coastal Fleet commander Captain Patrik Lillqvist plus the fleet’s 7th Surface Warfare Squadron. This bilateral engagement included Normandy welcoming Finnish Defence Forces representatives onboard for tours.
In a statement, the Finnish Defence Forces said the routine ship visit would see Normandy conduct re-supply and maintenance activities. The ship would also conduct exercises with the Finnish Navy, it added.
“The United States has had a long-lasting relationship with Finland, and we look forward to a sustained future together as a NATO ally,” the USN’s Captain Nathan Diaz, Normandy’s commanding officer (CO), said in a US 6th Fleet statement. Capt Diaz underlined too the enthusiasm of his ship’s company for being the first USN ship to visit since Finland joined the alliance.
Following the visit, Normandy sailed to continue patrol operations in 6th Fleet’s area of operations. The ship is a multi-role vessel with particular focus on air-defence capability. The cruiser has had prominent presence across the Euro-Atlantic theatre over the last year, including being part of the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group (CSG) as Ford conducted its first operational deployment, in late 2023. The deployment included sailing to the Eastern Mediterranean in the wake of the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war in October.
Finland became a NATO member on 4 April 2023, having applied to join (with Sweden) on 18 May 2022, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Sweden’s membership was formalised on 7 March 2024.
by Dr. Lee Willett
