On September 8, 2025, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group had completed an expanded deployment to the Arctic High North. Conducted from August 23 to September 8 near Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, the mission represented the northernmost U.S. carrier operations in decades, strengthening NATO’s deterrence against Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
For the first time, the strike group operated fully under NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), coordinating closely with allied warships from Norway, France, and Germany. U.S. destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan maneuvered alongside allied frigates, supported by coalition auxiliary vessels. Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, highlighted the mission as the result of years of cooperation with Norway, ensuring seamless interoperability in the High North.
The deployment successfully validated the Ford-class carrier’s advanced systems, including its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), under extreme Arctic conditions. Deck crews and logistics ships operated under persistent icing and rough seas, proving NATO’s ability to sustain prolonged operations far from traditional ports.
Melting sea ice is opening new shipping routes and transforming the Arctic into a contested arena for trade and security. Russia continues to expand its Arctic presence with missile systems, radar networks, and advanced submarines that threaten NATO’s Atlantic lifelines. China, despite being a non-Arctic nation, is pursuing increased access to these routes and infrastructure investments.
This deployment was more than a show of presence — it was a clear declaration that NATO and the U.S. are prepared to operate, defend, and, if necessary, prevail in the Arctic. The High North is no longer a peripheral theater but a central element of Euro-Atlantic security.
