Navy guided-missile destroyers sit pierside at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, said a sixth destroyer slated to join the squadron this fall can’t arrive soon enough, as Russian activity in the High North and war in the Middle East have driven growing security demands across Europe and Africa. (Indra Beaufort/U.S. Navy)
RIGA, Latvia — With Russian activity in the High North and war in the Middle East underscoring the Navy’s need for more forces in Europe and Africa, a destroyer slated for a fall arrival in Spain can’t get there soon enough, the commander of U.S. 6th Fleet said. The vessel will be the sixth destroyer at Naval Station Rota and boost the capacity for missions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and beyond, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson said in an interview. Anderson, who also commands Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, spoke last week following a media briefing for a military exercise designed to hone NATO’s ability to deter Russia in and around the Baltic Sea. The annual drill is known as BALTOPS, short for Baltic Operations. Navy officials on Tuesday declined to reveal the name of the destroyer, saying they will share specifics when they’re ready. The destroyers at Rota, in coordination with ashore facilities, play an integral role in European ballistic missile defense, providing firepower that U.S. commanders have said is needed to keep Russia in check. The warship’s expected arrival comes as Navy vessels that would normally train with allies in Europe and Africa have spent months supporting operations related to the conflict with Iran. Over the past two years, Rota-based destroyers have participated in U.S. military operations in the Middle East, including efforts to defend Israel from Iranian missile attacks. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, at least two and sometimes as many as four Rota-based destroyers have been on station in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to a review of U.S. Naval Institute News fleet tracker data. That pace of operations has left fewer Navy ships available for exercises with European and African allies and partners, which military leaders view as critical to readiness. For example, the command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney was the only Navy vessel to participate in this year’s BALTOPS. In previous years, Navy amphibious assault ships and destroyers have taken part as well. Meanwhile, there was no Navy ship presence at this year’s Obangame Express training in western Africa. Previously, Mount Whitney and the expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams joined in the exercise. Obangame Express, one of three trainings considered to be the hallmark of the Navy’s presence in African countries, is important in building relationships on a continent where Russia and China vie for influence, officials have said. Although Navy ships didn’t participate in BALTOPS, the U.S. military had a presence at both exercises, including Seabees and Marines, as well as a San Diego-based drone squadron. Navy presence during Obangame included visits to some participating countries by Adm. George Wikoff, commander of Naval Forces Europe-Africa. “It’s a delicate balance between (using) current readiness and then sustaining future readiness and helping to generate it,” Anderson said, adding that the focus moving forward will be on rebuilding readiness consumed in recent months. It’s unclear exactly when the sixth destroyer will join the Rota squadron, which includes USS Paul Ignatius, USS Roosevelt, USS Bulkeley, USS Arleigh Burke and USS Oscar Austin. The impending addition would complete an agreement with Spain to increase the number of U.S. destroyers at Rota from four to six. Oscar Austin arrived in October 2024. The ships are armed with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes and other weapons that can defend against threats in the air, at sea and underwater. The most recent versions can simultaneously conduct air defense and ballistic missile defense, according to the Navy. Recent operations in the Middle East have given sailors experience that will be applied to future missions in Europe, Africa and elsewhere, Anderson said. “We know that the threat is learning through all this, but it’s important that we’re learning and that we’re learning at a faster rate than what the threat is,” he said.
Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-06-24/navy-europe-africa-middle-east-anderson-destroyer-rota-22063588.html
Source – Stars and Stripes