Norwegian air and naval escorts guide the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) through the Oslo fjord for its first port call in Oslo, Norway, on May 24, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and the first U.S. aircraft carrier to pull into Norway in more than 65 years.

Three Norwegian military helicopters perform a fly-by of the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) as the ship transits the Oslo fjord for its first port call in Oslo, Norway, on May 24, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and the first U.S. aircraft carrier to pull into Norway in more than 65 years.

U.S. European Command’s Air Force foreign area officers participate in the first Air Force EUCOM FAO Symposium on May 19, 2023, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Forty-nine FAOs from around the world participated in person and virtually in the full day of academic discussions, professional development and innovative collaboration workshops. (Courtesy photo)

Lithuanian defense officials hosted a U.S. European Command delegation in Vilnius, Lithuania, from May 18-19, 2023, for a bilateral engagement to discuss security cooperation, plans and support to Ukraine.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt arrives at Naval Station Rota as part of its homeport shift April 19, 2020. Named in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, Roosevelt will be the first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer stationed in Rota, providing the ability to deploy with two embarked Lamps MK III MH-60B Sea Hawk helicopters.

Brig. Gen. Mihail Iancu, deputy chief of the Department of Defense Policy, Planning, and International Relations, led the Romanian delegation to include Romania's Senior National Representative to U.S. European Command, Col. Gabriel Rilladuring, during bilateral staff talks in Bucharest, Romania, on May 3, 2023.

Romanian State Secretary Simona Cojocaru provides opening remarks for the inaugural Moldova Security Assistance Roundtable in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2023. The roundtable included discussions with Moldovan counterparts on the topics of strategy, planning and defense modernization.

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, Commander, U.S. European Command, delivers testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 in Washington, D.C., April 27, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, fire an FGM-148 Javelin during a live-fire range while deployed with Marine Rotational Forces Europe (MRF-E) 23.1 in Setermoen, Norway, April 2, 2023. MRF-E focuses on regional engagements throughout Europe by conducting various exercises, mountain warfare training, and military-to-military engagements which enhance overall interoperability of the U.S. Marine Corps with allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Megan Ozaki)

Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command, delivered the 2023 Posture Statement to the House Armed Services Committee April 26, 2023, and to the Senate Armed Services Committee April 27, 2023.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dylan Knox and Latvian National Guard Sgt. Maj. Arvis Solims share a joke between games during a military hockey event April 22, 2023, at the Valmieras Olimpiskais Centrs in Valmiera, Latvia. Military hockey teams from Latvia, Canada and the United States participated in the friendly competition as part of the Stronger Together Hockey Exhibition, a series of military hockey events that, through a shared love for hockey, strengthens partnerships and contributes to solidarity and interoperability in deterring aggression along NATO’s eastern flank. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. Daryl T. Madrid)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Greer Chambless, the U.S. Embassy Riga defense attaché, second from left, delivers remarks during the opening ceremony for the Stronger Together Hockey Exhibition, held April 22, 2023, in Valmiera, Latvia. Canadian Ambassador to Latvia Brian Szwarc, left, also delivered remarks and dropped the ceremonial puck to open the the friendly competition between military hockey teams from Latvia, Canada and the United States. The event, through the teams' shared love for hockey, strengthened partnerships and contributed to solidarity and interoperability in deterring aggression along NATO’s eastern flank. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Thurman Snyder)

USS San Juan (SSN 751) conducts a brief stop for supplies and personnel off the coast of Iceland, supported by Icelandic Coast Guard ICVG Þór, April 26, 2023.

U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams tanks assigned to 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, line up before conducting a live fire accuracy screening test as part of Defender Europe 22 at Mielno Range at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, May 11, 2022. The exercise demonstrates U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s ability to conduct large scale ground combat operations across multiple theaters in support of NATO.

At U.S. European Command’s Chiefs of Mission conference March 16-17 in Stuttgart, Germany, USEUCOM Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Amb. Dereck Hogan; U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Amb. Bridget Brink; and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John Lamontagne, spoke to attendees on the future of European security resulting from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. (US Army photo by SSG Daniel Ward)

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Amb. Bridget Brink, and commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven Edwards, engage in conversation at U.S. European Command’s Chiefs of Mission conference in Stuttgart, Germany, March 16-17. (US Army photo by SSG Daniel Ward)

USEUCOM Commander, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Amb. Dereck Hogan, provide opening remarks at U.S. European Command’s Chiefs of Mission conference in Stuttgart, Germany, March 16-17. (US Army photo by SSG Daniel Ward)

Group photo of attendees of the annual Chiefs of Mission Conference March 16-17 at the U.S. European Command Rogers Center, Stuttgart, Germany. USEUCOM hosts the annual meeting to gather senior leaders from the command’s headquarters, component commands, Department of State and more than 50 U.S. ambassadors and charge d’ affaires from across Europe to discuss whole-of-government support to America’s Allies and partners in the face of increasing threats and challenges across the region. (Courtesy photo by Freddy Wheeler)

U.S. European Command released declassified footage of a Russian Su-27 aircraft conducting an unsafe/unprofessional intercept of a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 in international airspace over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023.

An MQ-9 Reaper flies a training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range, July 15, 2019. MQ-9 aircrew provide dominant, persistent attack and reconnaissance for comabtant commanders and coalition partners across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Rio Rosado)

Two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept with a U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023.

Panagiotis Theotis, a Humanitarian Assistance Program Manager with the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation in Cyprus, discusses a project idea with a Civil Affairs team during an informational “round robin” session as part of the USEUCOM OHDACA workshop that was held in Tirana, Albania during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

Andy Spendlove, a project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, shares his thoughts with an Office of Defense Cooperation team during an informational “round robin” session as part of the USEUCOM OHDACA workshop that was held in Tirana, Albania during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

Demian Smith, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Albania, provides welcoming remarks for participants of the USEUCOM Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) workshop. The event was held in Albania’s capital city during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

Lyudmyla Kyrylenko, a Humanitarian Assistance Program Manager with the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation in Ukraine, provides a status update on the projects being conducted and planned under the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program. While the current conflict with Russia has postponed some projects, others are proceeding in areas less affected by the war. Ms. Kyrylenko was a featured speaker at the USEUCOM OHDACA workshop that was held in Tirana, Albania during the week of Feb. 5-10. More than 100 personnel working on humanitarian issues throughout the U.S. European Command region gathered at the workshop to discuss future projects.

A delegate from the Slovakian armed forces displays his military chaplain patch at the 34th annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC) in Bucharest, Romania, Feb. 6-10, 2023.

During a ceremony held in Trondheim, Norway, on Feb. 15, 2023, Norwegian Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway chief of defense; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard’s adjutant general; signed a State Partnership agreement between the Minnesota National Guard and Norway. The agreement further expands the 50-year relationship between the Minnesota NG and Norway and demonstrates the U.S. and Norway's mutual commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Arctic region. (U.S. Army photo)

U.S. and Italian soldiers ascend a mountain during Steel Blizzard, a multinational mountain and arctic warfare training exercise, in Usseaux, Italy, Feb. 15, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John Yountz)

U.S. Ambassador Kate Byrnes, the U.S. European Command civilian deputy and foreign policy adviser; U.S Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, the USEUCOM strategy, plans and policy director; and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the USEUCOM strategy, plans and policy deputy director; attended a State Partnership Program conference held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Feb. 2 2023. National Guard adjutants general were among the military leaders attending in support of the Department of Defense joint security cooperation program, managed by the National Guard Bureau and executed by USEUCOM, with National Guard units matched with participating countries within the USEUCOM area of responsibility. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the program, which facilitates cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs, strengthening relationships and increasing interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexcia Givens)

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. European Command commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, visited the Swiss Armed Forces and held talks with Swiss Armed Forces Chief Lt. Gen. Süssli in Bern, Switzerland, Feb. 9, 2023. As part of a troop demonstration at the Thun Military Training Area, noncommissioned officers of Armored School 21 gave Cavoli an inside view of the Swiss Armed Forces’ basic practical training. The event included a demonstration of the armored infantry fighting vehicle 2000’s firing capabilities, and a combat exercise in urban terrain. (DDPS courtesy photo by Alex Kühni)

Members of the United States Agency for International Development’s Disaster Assistance Response Team unload cargo at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Feb. 8, 2023. The DART is assigned to lead the U.S. government humanitarian response following a series of earthquakes that struck central-southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, 2023. The DART includes urban search and rescue teams from the Fairfax and Los Angeles County Fire Departments and include 159 people, 12 rescue dogs and 170,000 pounds of specialized equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua T. Crossman)

U.S. Ambassador, Kate Byrnes, civilian deputy to the USEUCOM commander and Foreign Policy Advisor (left), moderates a panel on strengthening European security amidst global challenges with at the European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3. Panelists included Brig. Gen. Jared Sembritzki, director of operations, German Army Headquarters; U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, director of strategy, engagement and programs, U.S. Africa Command; and, Rear Adm. Solveig Krey, chief of operations, Defense Staff Norway.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Celeste Wallander, delivers remarks on NATO, Europe and U.S. national defense strategy at U.S. European Command’s European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, USEUCOM’s director for strategy, plans and policy, delivers closing remarks at the European Strategy Conference and Workshop (ESCW) in Ramstein, Germany, Jan. 30 — Feb. 3.

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and U.S. European Command leaders met on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Mons, Belgium, for staff talks, reinforcing the strong collaboration and synchronization between the two organizations. (NATO photo by U.S. Navy MC2 Wesley Richardson)

Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command Plans, Policy, and Strategy and Capabilities deputy director, meets with Romanian Col. Emilian Chirea, interim J5 director, at the Romanian Ministry of National Defense in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 24, 2022.

Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes

Brig. Gen. Nikolay Rusev, the Graf Ignatievo Air Base commander, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Vaughan, the U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities directorate deputy director, meet during Vaughan's official visit to Bulgaria in June 2022.