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Newsweek
05-08-2025
- General
- Newsweek
US Warship Provided 'Critical Defense' of Strategic Island Base: Navy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States warship, based in the Western Pacific, recently provided critical defense for America's strategic military outpost at Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The destroyer USS Ralph Johnson is assigned to the Seventh Fleet's Destroyer Squadron 15, a U.S. Navy surface force forward deployed in Japan. "We won't speak to the details of specific missions for operations security purposes," the Seventh Fleet told Newsweek when asked for comment. Why It Matters Diego Garcia—a tiny British Indian Ocean Territory island that hosts a U.S. military base—received far more attention than usual earlier this year following tensions between the U.S. and Iran, during which the Pentagon deployed as many as six B-2 stealth bombers there. As part of the broader U.S. reinforcement of its force posture in the Middle East, the Ralph Johnson and its sister ship, USS Milius—also assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15—operated in the Indian Ocean and made port calls at Diego Garcia, Newsweek previously reported. The Seventh Fleet—which manages U.S. naval operations across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans—told Newsweek that both Japan-homeported warships are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as ballistic missile defense. What To Know The Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, completed a seven-month deployment and returned to its home port at the Yokosuka naval base—located near Tokyo, Japan—on July 31, Destroyer Squadron 15 announced in a set of photos released the following day. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson returns to Yokosuka, Japan, on July 31, 2025. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson returns to Yokosuka, Japan, on July 31, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Taylor DiMartino/U.S. Navy The warship conducted patrols in the Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility and "critical defense of U.S. strategic locations in the Indian Ocean" during its deployment, according to a photo caption that did not specifically mention Diego Garcia. The Ralph Johnson was seen departing the island on July 13, following "a scheduled port visit." The military base "enables our forward deployed forces to conduct operations in support of regional stability and provide a rapid response to crises," the Seventh Fleet said. The Milius—which made its last stopover at Diego Garcia on July 21—was spotted anchoring off Yokosuka on Monday but appeared to set sail again without entering its home port for unknown reasons, according to photos shared by a local ship spotter. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Milius arrives in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on July 21, 2025. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Milius arrives in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on July 21, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson/U.S. Navy A third warship from Destroyer Squadron 15, USS John Finn, also made a port visit to Diego Garcia on July 16 and arrived at Sembawang naval base in Singapore on Monday. According to its official Facebook page, the warship commenced patrols as of July 31. The Seventh Fleet told Newsweek that it operates daily to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity of the U.S., its allies, and partners, ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. What People Are Saying The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The Indo-Pacific region stretches from the U.S. Pacific Coastline to the Indian Ocean. As forward deployed naval forces, the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates forward to strengthen peace, stability and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific, and we will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows." U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia said on its website: "Diego Garcia consists of United States Navy and Air Force personnel assigned here to carry out the Island's mission: To maintain and operate facilities and provide services and materials in support of afloat units, operating forces on forward deployment, and tenant shore activities." What Happens Next Whether the Pentagon will maintain a strong military presence on Diego Garcia remains uncertain, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have eased following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran's missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar in June.
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
US Redeploys Pacific Warship As Iran Threat Grows
A United States destroyer, USS Milius, which is based in the Western Pacific Ocean, is now operating in Middle Eastern waters as part of the American military presence aimed at Iran. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, which oversee military operations in the Middle East, for comment by email. "The U.S. Navy is a professional maritime force, focused on ensuring that we maintain the capabilities to deter, defend against, and, if necessary, defeat aggression," the U.S. Seventh Fleet, which operates in the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, told Newsweek. Newsweek previously reported that the Milius and its sister ship, USS Ralph Johnson, which are assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15, have been operating in the Indian Ocean over the past month. The squadron is the Japan-headquartered Seventh Fleet's principal surface force. The Pentagon is reinforcing its force posture in the Middle East amid continued tensions with Iran over the nuclear talks, as well as the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Several American warships operating in the Western Pacific Ocean were re-tasked earlier to the Middle East, including a naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. An official released photo reveals that the Milius shifted its operating area to the Central Command's area of responsibility on April 25. The destroyer, which is homeported in Japan and joined the Destroyer Squadron 15 in 2018, was still in the Indian Ocean the day before. While another official photo, which was taken on April 24, mentioned the Milius was part of the Destroyer Squadron 15, the warship is now operating as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. Satellite imagery captured the aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on April 24. The Milius, which is one of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, provides what the U.S. Navy called "multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities." This class of multi-mission surface combatant is capable of operating independently or as part of a carrier strike group. In addition to the Milius, USS Wayne E. Meyer, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was initially assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for a deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean, has been operating with the Carl Vinson in the Middle East since at least April 13. Apart from the Milius and the Wayne E. Meyer, three other warships were assigned to the Carl Vinson; the cruiser USS Princeton, as well as a pair of destroyers, USS Sterett and USS William P. Lawrence, the U.S. Naval Institute News reported on April 28. The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates its forces from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean, promoting regional stability and maritime security in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Central Command said: "Crews embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) resupply at sea and operate 24/7, targeting Iran-backed Houthi terrorists within Houthi controlled areas of Yemen." The Harry S. Truman is the second U.S. aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East. It remains to be seen whether the Ralph Johnson will become the next Japan-based U.S. warship to join the combat operations in the Middle East or remain in the Indian Ocean. Related Articles Houthis Warn Global Airlines After Missile AttackU.S. War on the Houthis: Five Things to WatchUS and Allied Drills Counter China's Island-Taking TacticsFour Signs Russia Could Be Preparing for War With NATO 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows US Warships Reinforcing Firepower Near Middle East
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A pair of Japan-based U.S. destroyers has been operating in the Indian Ocean over the past month, as the Pentagon is enhancing its military presence in the nearby Middle East. Meanwhile, another destroyer, which was previously deployed for a Western Pacific Ocean mission, is conducting combat operations in the Middle East, a map by Newsweek shows. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Central Command and the Iranian permanent mission to the United Nations in New York via email for comment. A spokesperson for the Japan-headquartered U.S. Seventh Fleet, which maintains a forward presence in the Indo-Pacific region, told Newsweek that it would not discuss specific details regarding ongoing and future operations, as well as ship movements for operational security. The USS Carl Vinson transits in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 19, 2025. The USS Carl Vinson transits in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 19, 2025. U.S. Navy Why It Matters Tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, have been rising in recent months due to Tehran's nuclear program and the Houthi attacks on ships, including American warships, in the Red Sea, a key shipping route for global trade. The U.S. has reinforced its force posture in the Middle East, which falls within the Central Command's area of responsibility, including the re-tasking of a naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson from its Pacific Ocean deployment to the Middle East. Meanwhile, America's naval dominance in the Western Pacific Ocean is being challenged by China. There are nine U.S. destroyers assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15, the principal surface force of the Seventh Fleet, a spokesperson for the Fleet told Newsweek. What To Know Photos released by the U.S. Navy show that the destroyers USS Milius and USS Ralph Johnson, both assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, were operating in the Indian Ocean as of last week. The Indian Ocean is part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility. While the two warships were underway in the Indian Ocean, they made port calls at Diego Garcia, a tiny island of the British Indian Ocean Territory that hosts a key U.S. military base. The USS Milius arrives at U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia on April 23, 2025. The USS Milius arrives at U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia on April 23, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seamen Kamaren Hill/U.S. Navy The Milius visited the remote island for what the U.S. Navy called a "scheduled port visit" on April 23, while the island hosted the Ralph Johnson twice on April 11 and April 22. Diego Garcia's logistical capabilities enhance the endurance and readiness of naval forces, a spokesperson for the U.S. Seventh Fleet explained to Newsweek, "reinforcing a sustained presence that is vital for responding to mission requirements and ensuring regional stability." According to a Newsweek map, the Milius and Ralph Johnson arrived in the Indian Ocean after transiting the Malacca Strait, which links the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Carl Vinson's sister ship, USS Nimitz, departed from the U.S. West Coast last month for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean. Its naval strike group was initially comprised of four destroyers, which included the Hawaii-homeported USS Wayne E. Meyer. However, following a stopover at Diego Garcia on April 5, the Wayne E. Meyer has been conducting operations in the Central Command's area of responsibility as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group since at least April 13, according to official released photos. Newsweek reached out to the Nimitz Public Affairs Officer for comment by email. The Milius, Ralph Johnson, and Wayne E. Meyer are the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, providing offensive and defensive capabilities with a variety of missiles, the U.S. Navy said. The USS Wayne E. Meyer (R) conducts a replenishment-at-sea in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 13, 2025. The USS Wayne E. Meyer (R) conducts a replenishment-at-sea in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 13, 2025. U.S. Navy What People Are Saying A spokesperson for the U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The mission of the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet is to provide operational control and planning for its forces in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, while promoting regional stability and maritime security through engagements with allies and partners. "As forward-deployed naval forces within the [Seventh] Fleet area of operations, our ships and aircraft have the unique privilege of operating in the Western Pacific, granting us the chance to meet our allies and partners face-to-face and reinforce shared commitment to deterring aggression and maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Central Command reported on April 27: "Since March 15, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces have conducted an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. These operations have been executed using detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians." What Happens Next It was unclear when the Milius and Ralph Johnson would conclude their deployments in the Indian Ocean. It remains to be seen whether the Wayne E. Meyer will stay in the Middle East or rejoin the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to resume its Western Pacific Ocean mission.
