Tag Archives: Gulf of Aden

AFRICOM: China, Russia Expanding Influence in Africa

AFRICOM: China, Russia Expanding Influence in Africa

Chinese sailors at the People’s Liberation Army Navy base in Djibouti in 2019. Xinhua Photo

This post has been updated to correct where Russian mercenaries have been operating in Africa.

China’s ambitions in Africa are long-term and range from power plants and port investment to new military bases, but Russia, through its use of mercenaries like the Wagner Group, is propping up autocratic regimes and strives for immediate influence across the continent from Libya to Central Africa, the Pentagon’s top commander for the continent said Tuesday. Read More

USS Chung-Hoon Seizes 5.5 Tons of Drugs in Gulf of Aden

USS Chung-Hoon Seizes 5.5 Tons of Drugs in Gulf of Aden

Members of the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon’s (DDG-93) visit, board, search and seizure team (VBSS) board a stateless dhow that was transporting 11,000 pounds of illicit drugs in the international waters of the Gulf of Aden, Dec. 27, 2018.

More than 5.5 tons of hashish were seized by the crew of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) while patrolling the Gulf of Aden. Read More

Admiral: Attacks Like Those on USS Mason Will Become More Common

Admiral: Attacks Like Those on USS Mason Will Become More Common

USS Mason (DDG-87) pulls into the Port of Djibouti escorted by Coastal Riverine Squadron 8 Sea Ark patrol boats on July 23, 2016. US Navy Photo

USS Mason (DDG-87) pulls into the Port of Djibouti escorted by Coastal Riverine Squadron 8 Sea Ark patrol boats on July 23, 2016. US Navy Photo

The Navy should prepare for a future operating environment where anti-ship weapons propagate globally and attacks such as the recent ones against guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87) are more commonplace, one the service’s top budget officials said. Read More

Opinion: Iran Nuke Deal Will Spawn More Proxy Attacks Like The Ones In Yemen

Opinion: Iran Nuke Deal Will Spawn More Proxy Attacks Like The Ones In Yemen

HSV Swift following an attack by what is believed to be a C-802 Chinese-built missile.

HSV Swift following an attack by what is believed to be a C-802 Chinese-built missile.

This is the second of two opinion pieces examining the Iran nuclear deal and the recent attacks in Yemen.

Recent events in the Middle East illustrate the continued expansion of Iranian influence, and the lifting of economic sanctions in January 2016 as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, the “Iran Nuclear deal”) will accelerate this strategic trend by reviving Iran’s economic health. The nuclear provisions of the JCPOA might work to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons state in the next ten years; however, Iran has demonstrated with certainty that it will use the infusion of cash to further support proxy groups to achieve its interests in the region. Read More