Additional Coverage:
- Pentagon deploys Navy destroyer for border protection (thehill.com)
Navy Warship Deployed to Southern Border in Unusual Move
A guided-missile destroyer, the USS Gravely, has been deployed to the U.S. southern border in a unique move announced by the Pentagon. The warship, typically used in international waters, departed Virginia on Saturday and will operate in U.S. and international waters near the border. A specialized Coast Guard law enforcement team will be stationed aboard.
This deployment marks a significant escalation in border security efforts. While thousands of active-duty troops have been deployed to the border previously, this is the first time a warship of this kind has been used. The Gravely, recently returned from a nine-month deployment in the Middle East, is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and offers a substantial increase in capacity compared to standard Coast Guard vessels.
Military leaders emphasized the importance of this deployment for national security. Gen.
Gregory Guillot, leader of Northern Command, stated that the Gravely enhances the ability to protect U.S. territorial integrity and sovereignty. Adm.
Daryl Caudle of the Naval Forces Northern Command echoed this sentiment, calling the deployment a “vital enhancement” to the nation’s border security framework.
This action follows President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border and subsequent executive orders aimed at increasing security. In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the border to assess the situation and reinforce the military’s role in addressing illegal immigration.
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- Pentagon deploys Navy destroyer for border protection (thehill.com)