Category Archives: Venezuela

Russian Navy Coming to the Straits of Florida Next Week

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Map of the Caribbean Sea and its islands. Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons, author–Kmusser, all data from Vector Map.

MSN reports three Russian Navy surface ships and a nuclear-powered submarine are expected call on Havana next week.

“Russian ships are expected to make port calls in Cuba and perhaps Venezuela. The regional exercises are expected to last through the summer and culminate in a global naval exercise in the fall.”

Of course, the US is not objecting to the presence of a few Russian Ships operating in waters close to the US. Nevertheless, the Coast Guard may encounter these ships.

It would be interesting to know what kind of ships they are sending.

Meanwhile close to Russia, “NATO to Kick Off Largest Baltic Operations Exercise to Date.”

“USS Farragut Returns Home Following a Successful SOUTHCOM Deployment” –4th Fleet

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190914-N-KK394-029.MAYPORT, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2019) USS Farragut (DDG 99) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch/Released)

Below is a news release from USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

We have not seen much recently about Navy support of drug interdiction efforts. The US Naval Institute’s Fleet and Marine Tracker no longer includes tabular information about the number of Navy ships deployed to the various fleets, which used to give us some indication. Hopefully we will be seeing more reports like the one below.

Does seem like an LCS would have been a more appropriate choice for the operation, but perhaps there were other considerations. Farragut was deployed for more than three months. Sounds like they spent their time in the Caribbean rather than the Eastern Pacific. Their Deployment began long before the Venezuela/Guyana flap, but I am sure Guyana and the British felt more comfortable, knowing a DDG and other assets were in the neighborhood.

Feb. 3, 2024

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla.  –  MAYPORT, Fla. – The Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) returned to U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Feb. 3, 2024, following the ship’s successful deployment under U.S. 4th Fleet to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

Farragut, along with the “Valkyries” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 Det 2 deployed in September 2023 to support Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF)-South’s counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea.

During the deployment, Farragut, with her embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), apprehended or disrupted an estimated 1,770 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated street value of more than $44 million and the detention of 18 suspected illicit drug runners.

“Every Sailor and Coast Guardsmen had a role in this team effort,” said Farragut Commanding Officer Cmdr. Tom Roberts. “We, alongside allies and partners, seized the opportunity to advance regional and strategic objectives in the area of operations, supporting our nation and our Navy. I could not be more proud of our team and their accomplishments.”

Farragut, the LEDET, and HSM 50 Det 2 conducted operations with the Dominican Navy and British Royal Navy to assist with the apprehension and transfer of personnel and cargo. Farragut also conducted deck landing qualifications with Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B) Soldiers, qualifying 18 UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter pilots for maritime operations.

Farragut’s port visits included Willemstad, Curacao, where the ship hosted local students and military personnel to showcase the capabilities of Farragut and discuss the daily lives of Sailors onboard a U.S. naval warship.

“The crew of USS Farragut demonstrated tremendous proficiency and professionalism while executing theater security cooperation events and counter illicit trafficking operations throughout their extended 4-month deployment.” said Capt. Bryan Gallo, Commodore of Task Force FOUR FIVE.

CTF 45 is the U.S. 4th Fleet surface task force charged with executing combined naval operations, building and strengthening regional maritime partnerships, and acting as a DoD-ready service provider to JIATF-South in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations in Central and South American waters.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability.

“Unusual AC-130J Gunship Caribbean Training Video Released” –The Drive

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As noted recently, there is increased tension in an area where the Coast Guard routinely operates. Also noticed that in a very unusual move, the US Navy expects to have a Carrier operating with 4th Fleet.

Now we have this report of another unusual exercise/demonstration.

Included in the report was this reference to the Coast Guard.

“Yesterday, U.S. SOF [special operations forces] carried out a joint training evolution in the Southern Caribbean which included elements from the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard,” one post on December 8 on SOCSOUTH’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, read. “The event not only honed readiness and interoperability skills but also demonstrated capability and security for the region.”

It would not be unusual for the Coast Guard to play the opposition force in an exercise, but it may have been more than that. The US Naval Institute Fleet and Marine Tracker has stopped showing how many Navy ships are operating with each fleet, but normally. most of the available naval vessels in 4th Fleet are in fact Coast Guard.

Previous Guyana / Venezuela related posts:

“U.S. 4th Fleet’s Maritime Synchronization Symposium: Focus on China and Scaling the Hybrid Fleet”

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U.S. 4th Fleet’s Maritime Synchronization Symposium: Focus on China and Scaling the Hybrid Fleet

Below is a USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS news release.

It does not mention the Coast Guard specifically, but the uniforms are recognizable in the photo above.

Surprising news is that USS George Washington (CVN 73) will deploy to the area next year. Presumably some escorts will come with her. Maybe they will do some drug interdiction along the way. (Wonder if this might be a signal to Venezuela.)

Significantly, 4th Fleet is now a center for experimentation with manned/unmanned hybrid operations that hopefully will ultimately also benefit the Coast Guard.

Dec. 12, 2023
Naval Station Mayport, Fla.  –  U.S. Navy Attachés and U.S. Navy Section Chiefs serving in partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America gathered at Naval Station Mayport Dec. 5-8, 2023, for the annual U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Maritime Synchronization Symposium.

This year’s symposium featured four guest speakers, expert panels, and question-and-answer sessions for the region’s Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) to discuss mutual challenges and opportunities, get the latest information on strategy, operations and exercises, and learn more about the Navy’s strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China and U.S. 4th Fleet’s campaign to inform the hybrid fleet.

The first guest speaker was Ambassador James Story, who most recently served as U.S. Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located at the United States Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, and is currently a State Department Fellow at Georgetown University. Other guest speakers included Dr. Miles Yu, Professor of East Asia and Military History at the U.S. Naval Academy, Lt. Gen. David Bellon, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, and Mr. Chris Diaz, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s Chief of Staff.

“We brought in dynamic speakers who gave our Navy Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) much to think about as they return to their respective countries,” said Cmdr. Stephanie Lastinger, U.S. 4th Fleet Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) Director. “They serve on the front lines of strategic competition and are successfully advancing American interests abroad.”

Participants were able to learn more about and provide input to staffers planning the upcoming Southern Seas and Continuing Promise deployments, which will feature USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) deploying to the region next year. They also heard from Cmdr. David Edwards, U.S. 4th Fleet’s Technology and Innovation Director, who briefed Operation Windward Stack, the Fleet’s current operation in the Caribbean.

We are operationalizing technology in a campaign of learning where sometimes we win and sometimes we learn,” said Cmdr. Edwards. “We are sharing our results with the other fleets already and look forward to integrating hybrid fleet information with our partners.”

“This year’s symposium provided all of our FAOs, service providers, and stakeholders an opportunity to spend time together and develop relationships which will help them get better as members of their respective U.S. country teams,” said Rear Adm. Rich Lofgren, USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT Reserve Vice Commander. “We know the critical work our FAOs perform in making the U.S. the maritime partner of choice in the Caribbean, Central and South America.”

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

“Defending the Dutch Caribbean: An Assessment” –Geopolitical Monitor

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Willemstad, Feb. 2022. The Netherlands the royal family was transported from Aruba to Curacao aboard the Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Holland (P-84).

Geopolitical Monitor discusses the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has been a good partner in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean. The four ships of the Holland class are in many ways similar in size and characteristics to the Offshore Patrol Cutters. The Netherlands Navy tends to keep one of these ships in the Caribbean, and they frequently host US Coast Guard Law Enforcement teams. At least once they also hosted a Coast Guard H-65 airborne use of force helicopter.

The post talks about the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG, or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied: KCG),

“…which has facilities in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Marteen. This agency carries out missions involving search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime interdiction. The DCCG’s fleet includes three Damen Stan Patrol 4100 cutters (slightly smaller but similar to the Webber class–Chuck), Jaguar, Panther, and Puma, five Boston Whaler Justice 20 craft, and 12 Metal Shark Defiant interceptor vessels. In addition, in April 2022, the Dutch organization for defense equipment (Defensie Materieel Organisatie) announced that two helicopters were acquired from Bristow Helicopters and will be delivered in 2023. The DCCG currently operates two DHC-8 aircraft and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.”

They even have had long range, medium altitude unmanned search aircraft assigned, something the US Coast Guard still does not have,

“The DCCG’s surveillance capabilities were expanded in late March 2022, with the arrival to Curaçao of three General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles and two ground stations. The Reapers assist Dutch Caribbean military personnel in combating organized crime and illegal fishing, among other activities. They will remain in Curacao until 1 July 2023.”

The post alludes to Venezuelan’ threats to Dutch Caribbean islands that lay off the Venezuelan coast (Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire). While the Venezuelan military is far more powerful than the forces the Netherlands keeps in the Caribbean, it is hard to take these threats seriously since, an attack on even one of the islands, would be an attack on NATO.

On a personal note, really enjoyed a stopover in Aruba in the early 80s while it was snowing back in our Portland, Maine homeport–my wife will never let me forget.

Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention.

“Biggest Iranian flotilla yet en route to Venezuela with fuel” –Stars and Stripes

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The Iranian-flagged oil tanker Fortune is docked at the El Palito refinery after its arrival to Puerto Cabello in the northern state of Carabobo, Venezuela, on May 25, 2020.
AFP/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Stars and Stripes reports,

“(Tribune News Service) — Iran is sending its biggest fleet yet of tankers to Venezuela in defiance of U.S. sanctions to help the isolated nation weather a crippling fuel shortage, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Some of the flotilla of about 10 Iranian vessels will also help export Venezuelan crude after discharging fuel, the people said, asking not to be named because the transaction is not public.”

Given the US previous seizure of tankers employed in the trade, it would not be surprising to see the US move against them. Coast Guard involvement possible.