TRUMAN CARRIER STRIKE GROUP ENTERS MEDITERRANEAN AS TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH IN REGION

Illustrative image: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 3rd Class J. M. Tolbert/ Released

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has entered the Mediterranean Sea, the US Naval Institute (USNI) news reported on April 19.

On April 11, the Truman CSG left Norfolk for a scheduled deployment to the 6th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operation. On April 14, the USA, UK and France launched 105 missiles from both ships and aircraft against supposed chemical attack in Douma.

On April 18, the Truman CSG entered the region to support NATO allies as well as European and African partner nations, according to a press release by the US 6th Fleet:

“We are thrilled to have the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group here in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations and look forward to having them on our team as we conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations to include working alongside our NATO allies and regional partners. Our U.S. 6th fleet motto is ‘Power for Peace,’ and there is no more recognizable symbol of American naval power than a carrier strike group. Their presence in this vital region is a reflection of our commitment to a safe, prosperous and free Europe and Africa”.

The USNI writes:

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group includes USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), USS Farragut (DDG-99), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), USS The Sullivans(DDG-68) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81). German frigate FGS Hessen (F-221) is also joining the Truman CSG for this deployment.

The Truman CSG includes twice the number of ships that were part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike group that operated in the same regions a year ago. The Bush CSG included USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon(DDG-58) and USS Truxtun (DDG-103); and guided missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and USS Hue City (CG-66).

The deployment of the Harry S. Truman CSG in the Mediterranean Sea, near Syria, is a clear signal of possible escalation in the region. On April 14, the US, the UK and France carried out a massive missile strike on government targets in the war-torn country. However, the situation still remained tense. The US-led bloc has repeatedly threatened to carry out more strikes on Syria and even against Russian forces deplyoed there since then.

Some Syrian experts even believe that the CSG may participate in a new round of attacks against the country.

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