MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax) - Oslo is glad that Russia has stopped jamming GPS signals, which hindered the activities of Norwegian emergency services, Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Rune Resaland said.
"Norway was very concerned about GPS signal jamming from Russian territory, which had negative implications for Norwegian civil aircraft and hindered the activities of emergency services. We have raised the issue during numerous contacts with the Russian side and are pleased to say that this practice seems to have stopped," Resaland said at a meeting with Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachyov.
The Norwegian Defense Ministry said on November 13, 2018, that Russia was jamming GPS signals during the NATO exercise Trident Juncture. According to the ministry, "GPS signals were being jammed in the period between October 16 and November 7, and Russian forces stationed on the Kola Peninsula were behind the situation." The Finnish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed on November 15 that the signal was being jammed from Russia.
The NATO exercise Trident Juncture was held from October to November in 2018 and involved servicemen from 31 countries, including non-NATO states such as Finland and Sweden. It was the biggest exercise the alliance held in the region since the end of the Cold War.
The Norwegian Navy frigate Helge Ingstad collided with the Maltese-flagged tanker Sola TS at 4:03 a.m. on November 8, 2018. The frigate, one of the most modern ships in the Norwegian Navy and carrying Aegis combat systems, was on its way to base after the Trident Juncture exercise. The frigate sustained damage in the collision but managed to reach the coast of Hordaland in southern Norway. It was reported on November 13 that the frigate practically sank despite the efforts of rescuers.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on November 22, 2018, that Norway had not approached Moscow over the alleged jamming of GPS signals during the NATO drill.