U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone, on March 15th, with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss the situation in Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. “Secretary Hagel and Minister Le Drian affirmed the solidarity of the NATO alliance and disc
The U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed the Bulgarian port of Varna on Sunday, March 16. While in Varna, Truxtun hosted a planning conference with NATO allies to develop a future multilateral naval training event. Truxtun also had the opportunity to host the command
Six ships, led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, departed the U.S. for Scotland, March 14, to participate in Joint Warrior 14-2, a semiannual, United Kingdom-led training exercise designed to provide NATO and allied forces a unique multi-warfare environment in which to prepare for global
After an intense three weeks of operations, the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Mine Counter Measures and Dive Exercise 2014 (MCMEX14) closed with a traditional ceremonial Beat to Quarters at the Navy Museum in Auckland, New Zealand. The MCMEX14 was hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy and
Guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), departed Naval Station Norfolk March 14 on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding waters. “It is an honor to command USS Vella Gulf as we set sail to the 6th Fleet area of operations to enhance maritime security,” said Capt. R
On 13 March 2014, EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Tornado departed Operation Atalanta’s patrol areas off the Somali coast after completing 105 days and is now heading for her home port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. As the ship set a navigation course for Spain, the Rear Admiral Bléjean, who is the F
The forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, March 14. Donald Cook is the first of four des
The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) with embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal March 13, entering U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations. While deployed to the region, Bataan will conduct maritime security operations and participate in theater security cooperat
Shrunken but stable U.S. Defense Department budgets through fiscal 2015 allow the U.S. Navy an acceptable forward presence and have temporarily restored critical training and operations, but the force still faces shortfalls, backlogs and higher risks, the chief of naval operations said on Wednesday.
As of Thursday 13 March, the Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel, ESPS Relámpago joined the EU Naval Force to carry out counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia. ESPS Relámpago has replaced ESPS Tornado as the Spanish contribution to Operation Atalanta. ESPS Tornado is now on her way back home.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) arrived in Bulgaria for a port visit, March 13. Truxtun’s stay in the Black Sea will allow the ship to host an exercise planning conference with NATO allies March 15. The conference will focus on a multilateral naval exercise in the spirit of reassuri
On 6 March 2014, during the last port visit of the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship, FS Siroco, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean was invited to brief Seychellois government and administration representatives and diplomats on the EU’s counter piracy operation. The e
Defence and security company Saab is expanding its activities in the naval arena. Saab is therefore recruiting new employees to strengthen and develop its naval capabilities. Today, Saab is one of the leading companies within the naval arena. It is a provider to the Swedish Navy, the major contrac
On March 12, NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, concluded a three-day visit to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet (COMUSNAVCENT). During the visit, Rear Admiral Lazio met with USNAVCENT Deputy Com
