USS Enterprise (CVN-65) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (file photo)
The US navy has added another warship to its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, in an attempt to bolster America’s military presence in the Persian Gulf.
The USS Ponce - previously slated for decommissioning - arrived at the base on Thursday, a fleet spokesman in Manama said, Reuters reported. “Ponce's primary mission is to support mine countermeasures operations and other missions, such as the ability to provide repair service to other deployed units," added the spokesman, whose name was not mentioned in the report.
The USS Ponce - previously slated for decommissioning - arrived at the base on Thursday, a fleet spokesman in Manama said, Reuters reported. “Ponce's primary mission is to support mine countermeasures operations and other missions, such as the ability to provide repair service to other deployed units," added the spokesman, whose name was not mentioned in the report.
This is the fifth US navy ship that has joined the US base in Bahrain since late June.
The other four mine countermeasures (MCM) ships arrived at the Fifth Fleet on June 23 to be deployed for a seven-month period in an area of operations, including the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Washington has been weighing various alternatives to boost its military presence in the Middle East, particularly across the Persian Gulf.
A US Senate report indicates that the United States has now nearly 15,000 troops in three bases across Kuwait - three times the average number of American forces in the Middle Eastern country before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
According to the report, having the military bases throughout the region is a "lily pad" model to allow for a rapid deployment of military forces.
The American forces have also been stationed in Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Original news : 8 Jul 2012
