By James Stavridis (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The vast annual military operation known as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (simply RIMPAC in Pentagon jargon) just concluded on the beaches of Southern California with a huge demonstration of an amphibious assault, which involves sending troops ashore from warships at sea — a highly complex maneuver whether D-Day or present day. The … [Read more...]
Explainer: What is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Why is it Important?
By Julian Lee (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia temporarily halted oil shipments via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping lane for crude at the southern end of the Red Sea, after the country said two tankers were attacked by the Yemeni Houthi militia. Here’s why this waterway is starting to become a focal point for the global economy. What is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait? The Bab … [Read more...]
Trump, Iran and the New Guns of August -James Stavridis
By James Stavridis (Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the hot summer of 1987, I was a young Navy officer sailing into the Arabian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz onboard the Valley Forge, a brand new and heavily armed Aegis Cruiser. Our mission, code-named Ernest Will, was to escort merchant ships in and out of the Gulf, protecting them from the threat of Iranian cruise missiles and air … [Read more...]
U.S. Aims at Russia With Navy’s Resurrected Second Fleet -Stavridis
By James Stavridis (Bloomberg Opinion) -- In yet another indication of the return of great power politics and the cratering U.S.-Russian relationship, the Defense Department announced last week the return of the historic and venerable Second Fleet, which has traditionally guarded the Atlantic approaches to the continental U.S. The fleet was disestablished in 2011 in an … [Read more...]
How To Avoid A Naval Cold War In The High North
By James Stavridis (Bloomberg) In the classic Cold War novel (and fine 1965 film) "The Bedford Incident," a U.S. destroyer on a NATO mission tangles with a Soviet submarine in the frigid waters near the Arctic Circle. Mayhem ensues in a tautly described set of interactions that lead the world to the brink of nuclear war. Today, as we watch U.S. and Russia continue to … [Read more...]