Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises in Hawaii are many things to many nations in an increasingly interconnected world.

RIMPAC provides the ability to work in large ship formations at sea.

For the United States, this year it’s a chance to develop better military-to-military working relationships with China, which is participating for the first time.

For Norway, another first-time participant, RIMPAC is an opportunity to stretch its modernized navy, reaffirm its NATO ties, demonstrate new missile technology that the United States is interested in — and make a statement about neighboring Russia’s incursions in Ukraine.

For that final point, the Royal Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen traveled 10,000 miles from Norway and through the Panama Canal to Hawaii to send a message of unity with the West 10,000 miles back to Russia.

"It’s a clear signal to Russia, of course it is," said Rear Adm. Lars Saunes, chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy. And with what happened in Ukraine, "we need to ensure that we have ready forces and can operate together (with partner nations)."

Norway’s security and defense policy seeks to create a "preventive threshold" for war based on NATO membership.

"For too long trans-Atlantic security cooperation has been about what the U.S. can and should do for European security," Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide said in May. "However, mutual security goes both ways. That means that Europe needs to be willing to engage in those areas where the U.S. has security interests. Our contribution with our frigate to RIMPAC is a way of signaling that we stand ready to support the U.S., also in areas far away from European shores."

Soreide also noted that "what happens in the Asia-Pacific affects us all."

In a speech before the Atlantic Council in June, meanwhile, Soreide said that in Ukraine "we have had a stark reminder that peace and stability in Europe cannot be taken for granted."

According to the council, Norway is modernizing its military forces and enhancing interoperability at a time when many European countries are cutting back on defense budgets.

Norway’s navy, which Saunes said stands at 36 ships, submarines and coast guard vessels, 2,400 officers and 1,500 conscripts a year, is dwarfed by the U.S. Navy, with 290 deployable battle force ships, 323,000 active-duty sailors and 108,000 reservists.

Norway has improved its navy with five Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates, all of which were commissioned within the past eight years.

About 140 Norwegian sailors, 20 marines and six support and command personnel are in Hawaii for RIMPAC, Saunes said.

"The fact that Norway sent a ship all the way to RIMPAC shows that nations around the world have an interest in the security and stability of the Pacific," said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd, commander of the RIMPAC Combined Task Force.

Norway fired two missiles in a "sink exercise" Thursday, including a Norwegian Naval Strike Missile and an Evolved SeaSparrow, the Navy said.

Cmdr. Per Rostad, the Fridtjof Nansen’s commander, said the frigate can conduct anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare. "I think we’ll be employed in all those roles," he said.

Among the frigate’s jobs will be to act as an opposing force in war games at sea.

"That will be good fun," Rostad said jokingly. "It’s always good to be the bad guy."

For Norway, participation in RIMPAC is a big moment.

"With five frigates, this is a huge achievement for us to do this," Saunes said.