The commanders of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, along with their counterparts from the UK and France, conducted a naval trip on the USS Paul Hamilton destroyer through the Strait of Hormuz as a show of strength, as reported by JPost.
Strait navigation
This demonstration followed the recent seizure of two tanker ships by Iran. The purpose of the trip was to emphasize that the strait remains open and navigation is unrestricted. The US, UK, and France have a historical presence in the Gulf region despite being far from home. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, accompanied by Vice Admiral Emmanuel Slaars and Commodore Philip Dennis, met with the leadership of the USS Paul Hamilton, observed patrol operations, and expressed gratitude to the crew. Cooper commended the team for their efforts in increasing patrols with regional allies and partners, aiming to enhance collective vigilance and presence. During the transit, the USS Paul Hamilton and the UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster crossed paths while being observed by the commanders. HMS Lancaster, which arrived in the region last year, recently seized 3,000 kg of hashish worth $6 million from a fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea on May 8.
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Source: JPost
