USS Michigan arrives at Terceira Island on Sunday afternoon
United States nuclear submarine USS Michigan docked in the harbour of Praia da Vitória, on the Azorean Island of Terceira, yesterday afternoon, to take on fuel and other supplies.
As reports have stressed “the reason for USS Michigan’s passage to the Azores is unknown”. The sub more commonly operates in the Pacific Ocean.
Michigan is “one of the most important units of the United States Navy, due to the highly secret missions that it has carried out”, writes CNN Portugal.
Yesterday’s arrival in Praia da Vitória, on the island where the US has its long standing Lajes military base, involved “various boats: one civil and two official”, says RTP Azores. The operation was accompanied by an American plane stationed at Lajes military base.
None of the reports have said anything about the USS Michigan’s onward itinerary, if there is one.
RTP Azores remarks that the “United States has intensified vigilance in the Atlantic because of the increasingly intense transit of Russian submarines.
“Specialists in geostrategy have recommended the installation of a maritime base at Praia da Vitória port”, the news channel adds.
Albeit described as a nuclear submarine, Michigan does not carry atomic weapons. It is powered by a nuclear reactor, and armed with ‘tomahawk’ cruise missiles and torpedoes.
As SIC Notícias remarks: “Visits like this are extremely rare, especially since the end of the Cold War more than 30 years ago”.
Source material: CNN/ RTP Azores/ SIC Notícias
