Category Archives: Foreign Forces

EUCOM Commander: Russia Not Likely to Invade Ukraine Soon

By: John Grady

April 15, 2021 4:40 PM

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Winterfeld, company-level training advisor, observes Armed Forces of Ukraine troops conducting movement down a road at Combat Training Center-Yavoriv, Ukraine, March 30, 2021. U.S. Army Photo

While the current build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine rivals the 2014 annexation of Crimea – when Russia openly backed separatists trying to sever ties to Kyiv – the United States’ top commander in Europe today described the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the coming weeks as between “low and medium.” Read More →

Report to Congress on Russian Foreign Policy

April 15, 2021 9:43 AM

The following is the Aug. 14, 2021 Congressional Research Service Infocus report, Russia: Foreign Policy and U.S. Relations. Read More →

Lawmakers Quiz SOUTHCOM’s Faller on Littoral Combat Ship Program

By: Mallory Shelbourne

April 14, 2021 7:24 PM

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), transits the Caribbean Sea, April 10, 2021. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. US Navy Photo

Two lawmakers raised questions on the future of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship during a Wednesday hearing, as the service continues to wrestle with a crucial design flaw, how it will use the ships operationally and retirements of early hulls in the class. Read More →

CNO Gilday: China, Russia Deliberately Testing Allies ‘Cohesion’ in Actions in Ukraine, Near Taiwan

By: Sam LaGrone

April 14, 2021 5:03 PM

Chinese participating troops pass the reviewing platform during the opening ceremony of Kavkaz-2020 strategic exercises on Sept. 19, 2021. Chinese Defense Ministry Photo

Russia massing troops on the border of Ukraine and China continuing military overflights and maritime operations near Taiwan are in part a test of the resilience of the U.S.-led web of alliances, the chief of naval operations said on Wednesday. Read More →

USS Arleigh Burke Arrives in Spain, USS Donald Cook Will Head to Mayport

By: Mallory Shelbourne

April 12, 2021 5:23 PM

A Sailor removes a mooring line from a bollard to assist the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) in getting underway while pier-side at Naval Station Norfolk Mar. 26. US Navy Photo

Destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) pulled into Naval Station Rota, Spain over the weekend as it officially becomes part of the Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe (FDNF-E). Read More →

French Navy Exercise Combines Ships from 5 Navies on Short Notice

By: Gidget Fuentes

April 12, 2021 4:50 PM

U.S. Navy Ensign Micael Lozano, left, and Lt. Erik Bohman observe (from left to right) HMAS Anzac, IN Satpura, and FS Tonnerre from the bridge wing of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during La Perouse 2021. US Navy Photo

Amphibious warship USS Somerset (LPD-25) joined ships and aircraft from five countries in the Bay of Bengal last week for a multi-lateral exercise designed to help the navies quickly organize and operate as an integrated, combined maritime force. Read More →

Navy Software Factory, The Forge, Wants to Reshape How Ships Get Upgraded

By: Megan Eckstein

April 12, 2021 2:38 PM

The Forge software factory was set up in Riverdale, Md. — just off the University of Maryland College Park campus — in March 2021 to begin using a rapid software development and testing approach to bring maintenance fixes and new capabilities to the fleet. USNI News photo.

RIVERDALE, Md. – The Navy’s potential enemies are quickly increasing the size and sophistication of their fleets, which means the Navy needs to move faster too in bringing in new capabilities. Read More →

Persistent Chinese Maritime Militia Presence off Philippines Raises Concerns in Manila

By: Rene Acosta

April 12, 2021 1:37 PM

Overview of Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea and Chinese vessels moored in the waters surrounding the boomerang-shaped coral reef on March 23. MAXAR Photo

MANILA – Chinese maritime militia vessels remained berthed at the Whitsun Reef, which is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, lending credence to what Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described as China’s plot to permanently occupy the feature. Read More →

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 12, 2021

April 12, 2021 11:37 AM

USNI News Graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 12, 2021, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More →

U.S. Carrier Strike Group, Amphibious Warships Massed in South China Sea as Regional Tensions Simmer