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HALIFAX — A senior officer on the newest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. navy's fleet says the ship's stop in Canada is a time to remember the value of working closely with allies in times of international tension.
"The physical presence of the ship, along with our allies, shows our partnership. It shows how tight we are," he said."It's a visible reminder of that."Capt. Daryl Trent, the carrier's wing commander, said the mission has also provided a chance to test key capabilities, such as rapidly bringing bombs to the carrier's main deck and loading them onto fighter aircraft.
During the NATO exercises, the ship has hosted a number of liaison officers from Canada, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany. Asked if there is a greater sense of urgency, he replied,"there's a new attitude now ... most of the armed forces in Europe are getting ready for a new world order." "Together, we face persistent, direct threats across the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific from malign actors who seek to undermine our national interest and who challenge us in all domains, from sea to air, from space to cyberspace," he said.