USS Harry S Truman joining largest NATO exercise Trident Juncture

US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) will be joining the largest NATO exercise which is set to take place in Norway later this month.

US Navy photo of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducting flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

This is likely the first time an aircraft carrier will be taking part in Trident Juncture – an exercise whose 2018 edition is often referred to as one of the largest NATO exercises ever.

The participation of USS Harry S. Truman and its carrier strike group which will include some five additional ships was announced by US Navy Admiral James G. Foggo, Allied Joint Force Command head and the commander of the exercise.

“Today it is my privilege to announce that the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group, including its ships and aircraft, will participate in Trident Juncture, adding about 6000 personnel to the mix. That puts our total strength up at 45 plus 5 – you can do the math,” Admiral Foggo said.

“The US Navy is demonstrating its capability because of our flexibility, our agility and our commitment to the Alliance. And we have deployed the Harry S. Truman as a function of our dynamic force employment planning throughout the globe. And it’s one of the first platforms to actually participate in dynamic force employment; it came to the theatre, went back to the States and then returned just a month ago. While Truman remains ready rapidly to respond to any crisis anywhere, I am thrilled to announce my intent to employ this very capable strike group in Trident Juncture commencing on October 25.”

Foggo further said the core theme of Trident Juncture boils down to “three Ds – NATO is a Defensive alliance, Trident Juncture Demonstrates our credible capability, and together we Deter potential adversaries”.

Trident Juncture will see the participation of 40,000 personnel, around 120 aircraft and as many as 70 ships. All 29 NATO members and partner nations Sweden and Finland are taking part.

“The Trident Juncture exercise will take place in and around Norway from October 25th to November 7th. We have been very open about these dates, and they have been consistent. We will have advance activities taking place in and around Iceland from October 15th to the 17th,” Foggo added. “General Juneau will oversee the exercise from the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger and I will travel throughout the region, be there for the amphibious landings and get ashore and do key leader engagement and observe the exercise as it takes place.”

Foggo further noted that the exercise would be used to test the 30 / 30 / 30 point – which entails moving 30 battalions, 30 aircraft squadrons or 30 ships in 30 days. “The alliance aspires to be able to do that extremely well, and we will demonstrate that with the heavy logistics capability that will be demonstrated in this exercise. I think I have said it before: logistics is the sixth domain of warfare. And you can see that play out through Trident Juncture,” Foggo said.

USS Harry S. Truman is currently on a port visit to Portsmouth, UK, after arriving in the European theatre.