France, Australia, UK, U.S. Conduct Mine Countermeasures Exercise in the Arabian Gulf April 29, 2021 — The French Marine Nationale, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Navy, and U.S. Navy participated in multi-lateral mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise Artemis Trident (AT) 21 in the Arabian Gulf, April 18-29. MORE

IRGCN Interaction with U.S. Naval Vessels in the North Arabian Gulf April 27, 2021 — At approximately 8 p.m. on April 26, three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) failed to exercise due regard for the safety of other vessels as required under international law as they came into close proximity to U.S. naval vessels in international waters of the north Arabian Gulf. MORE

U.S., French Carrier Strike Groups Conduct Dual Carrier Operations in 5th Fleet April 15, 2021 — The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), began dual-carrier flight operations with the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Sea, April 13. MORE

Ships of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Conduct Port Visit in Duqm April 12, 2021 — The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), and guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) conducted a scheduled port visit in support of logistics and maintenance in Duqm, Oman, April 10-12. While this was a working port visit, crew members had an opportunity to rest and unwind in a designated liberty area on the pier. These activities were planned and carried out in full compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense (DOD) and host nation COVID-19 mitigation measures. MORE

Bahrain, U.S. Forces Complete Exercise Neon Defender 21 April 8, 2021 — The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted bi-lateral maritime exercise Neon Defender (ND) 21 at sea in the Arabian Gulf and on land in the Kingdom of Bahrain, April 3-7. MORE

French Chief of Joint Operations Visits NSA Bahrain April 8, 2021 — The French Armed Forces Chief of Joint Operations Lt. Gen. Stephane Mille visited U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, April 1. MORE

Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Enters 5th Fleet April 3, 2021 — The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), along with guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) and guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), completed a southbound Suez Canal transit into the Red Sea, April 2. MORE

5th Fleet Reaches Nearly 13,000 COVID-19 Vaccines Administered March 30, 2021 — U.S. 5th Fleet has reached nearly 13,000 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines administered during a fleet-wide effort to protect the force, as of March 28. MORE

France, Belgium, Japan and U.S. Forces Complete Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise March 23, 2021 — France, Belgium, Japan and U.S. forces conducted a Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise (GASWEX) in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, March 19-22. Led by the French Marine Nationale’s Charles De Gaulle carrier strike group, this combined, multilateral surface, air and sub-surface training is the first major multilateral exercise conducted since commencing their Clemenceau 21 deployment in February. MORE

USS Philippine Sea Returns to Sea Fully Mission Capable March 22, 2021 — Following an unscheduled port visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) has returned to sea fully mission capable, Mar. 21. MORE