destroyer

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has built up an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, when the Trump administration first began to shift assets to the region as part of its so-called war against narcoterrorism.

Here is a look at the ships, planes and troops in the region:

Ships

The Navy has eight warships in the region — three destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, a cruiser and a smaller littoral combat ship that’s designed for coastal waters.

The three amphibious assault ships make up an amphibious readiness group and carry an expeditionary unit of Marines. As a result, those ships also have on board a variety of Marine helicopters, Osprey tilt rotor aircraft and Harrier jets that have the capability of either transporting large numbers of Marines or striking targets on land and sea.

While officials have not offered specific numbers, destroyers and cruisers typically deploy with a missile loadout that contains Tomahawk cruise missiles — a missile that can strike hundreds of miles from its launch point.

A U.S. Navy submarine, the USS Newport News, also is operating in the broader area of South America and is capable of carrying and launching cruise missiles.

Planes and drones

A squadron of advanced U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jets have been sent to an airstrip in Puerto Rico. The planes were first spotted landing on the island territory in mid-September.

MQ-9 Reaper Air Force drones, capable of flying long distances and carrying up to eight laser-guided missiles, also have been spotted operating out of Puerto Rico by commercial satellites and military watchers, as well as photojournalists, around the same time.

It has been widely reported that the Navy is operating P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft out of the region as well.

Earlier this month, the military released a photo of an U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider, a heavily armed plane capable of firing its large guns with precision onto ground targets, also sitting on the tarmac in Puerto Rico.

There have been a multitude of other military aircraft that have temporarily flown through the region as part of military operations there.

For example, the U.S. Air Force flew a group of B-52 Stratofortress bombers through the region last week for what the Pentagon dubbed as a “bomber attack demo” in photos online.

Troops

All told, there are more than 6,000 sailors and Marines that are now operating in the region based on the ships that have been confirmed by defense officials.

The Pentagon has not offered specific numbers on how many drones, aircraft or ground crew are in the region so their impact on that broader figure is unknown.

Toropin writes for the Associated Press.

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The first Japanese warship destined to receive a Tomahawk cruise missile capability is now sailing to the United States for the required modifications. The Kongo class destroyer Chokai is at the forefront of Japan’s long-standing ambition to receive the long-range land attack cruise missiles, which it initially plans to field on its Aegis warships, although ground and submarine launch platforms could also follow in the future.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) announced yesterday that the process of reworking Chokai for Tomahawk had begun. On September 26, the warship conducted missile-loading training, involving dummy Tomahawk rounds, supported by U.S. Navy personnel, at Yokosuka Base. The 90 “strike length” Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) cells on the Kongo class are already long enough to accommodate the Tomahawk.

“The training was conducted to familiarize the ship with the procedures required for Tomahawk operation and to confirm the safety management system,” the Japanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The following day, Chokai departed Yokosuka for San Diego, California, where modifications and crew training will be carried out. The process is due to be completed by mid-September of next year. Ahead of that milestone, the first Tomahawks are expected to be handed over to Japan before the end of March next year, and it is planned for the destroyer to conduct live-fire tests around summer 2026. These will verify the ship’s readiness and crew proficiency to carry out operational missions.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense describes the Tomahawk plan as a crash program to supplement its efforts to locally develop new standoff missiles. Once fielded, the Tomahawks will enhance “standoff defense capabilities in order to intercept and eliminate invading forces against Japan at a rapid pace and at long range.” The U.S.-made cruise missiles are planned to be delivered between Japan’s fiscal years 2025 and 2027, which run from April 1 to March 31.

The U.S. Navy began training the JMSDF on the Tomahawk missile launch system in March 2024.

Ultimately, the JMSDF will field the Tomahawk on all eight of its currently fielded Aegis destroyers. These comprise four Kongo class, two Atago class, and two Maya class — the latter are Japan’s latest in-service Aegis-capable destroyers.

The cruise missiles will also be used on the two Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV) destroyers that are under construction. Lockheed Martin announced today that the first example of the advanced AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar system for the ASEV has begun testing at a shore-based facility in Moorestown, New Jersey. You can read more about its capabilities here.

Returning to the Tomahawk, the U.S. State Department approved the $2.35-billion sale to Japan of 400 of these missiles in November 2023, and a corresponding deal was struck in 2024. This will provide Japan with 200 Tomahawk Block IV and 200 Tomahawk Block V All-Up Rounds (AUR) and related equipment.

The deal came after years of talk that Japan would procure Tomahawks to give it a new long-range land-attack cruise missile capability.

The Tomahawk acquisition is a prime example of Japan’s changing military policy, including the fielding of what would previously have been considered ‘offensive’ weaponry.

This has been driven by growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, which have led to Japan increasing its counterstrike capability against potential threats, in particular those from China and North Korea.

The urgency of the situation has seen Japan accelerate its Tomahawk procurement, bringing it forward by one year, after it was originally planned to acquire the missiles in fiscal year 2026. Officials cited the “increasingly severe security environment around Japan” as the reason for this.

Already, the JMSDF’s Kongo class destroyers, like Chokai, are notably well-equipped, although they are primarily air and missile defense platforms. They are outfitted with powerful radar systems and an assortment of surface-to-air missiles, as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons. The addition of Tomahawk missiles will make them much more well-rounded warships, with a very significant offensive capability.

The Block IV Tomahawk can strike targets at a range of almost 1,000 miles, carrying a 1,000-pound unitary warhead. It can be re-routed mid-flight and is also able to loiter over an area to hit ‘pop-up’ targets, using its imaging infrared seeker. Japan is also receiving the Block V Tomahawk, an improved version with survivability upgrades that can also be used to hit moving targets, especially in the long-range anti-shipping role.

Japan is now joining a select group of Tomahawk-operating countries outside the United States.

The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy uses Tomahawk missiles to arm its Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarines. It also plans to provide a Tomahawk capability on its forthcoming Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.

In December last year, Australia became the third country to launch a Tomahawk missile after the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Hobart class destroyer HMAS Brisbane successfully test-fired the weapon for the first time, as you can read about here.

Since then, the Royal Netherlands Navy launched a Tomahawk for the first time, from one of its De Zeven Provinciën class frigates, HNLMS De Ruyter, off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, in March of this year.

While Japan is procuring the Tomahawk as an interim weapon, it will almost certainly continue in service once the country fields its own long-range land-attack cruise missile capability. This is an area in which Japan has been active for some time now, starting with efforts to increase the range of its Type 12 anti-ship missile now in development.

At the same time, Japan is also acquiring air-launched cruise missiles for land-attack missions.

Overall, Japan’s forthcoming introduction of the Tomahawk and its longer-term ambition to field more domestically produced standoff missiles reflect the country’s changing defense posture — including procuring ‘offensive’ weapons that would previously have been off the table. With China flexing its military muscle in the region and North Korea expanding its missile arsenal, Japan’s focus on bolstering its long-range conventional deterrent options will surely continue.

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US military action against a Venezuelan boat sparks condemnation and troop deployments.

Venezuela has accused the United States of illegally boarding and occupying one of its fishing vessels in the country’s special economic zone, further escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington.

In a statement on Saturday, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel, carrying nine “humble” and “harmless” fishermen, was intercepted by the US destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Friday.

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“The warship deployed 18 armed agents who boarded and occupied the small, harmless boat for eight hours,” the statement said, calling the incident a “direct provocation through the illegal use of excessive military means”.

The move follows a US military strike last week in the Caribbean that killed 11 Venezuelans and sank a boat that the administration of US President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, had been transporting narcotics.

Venezuela has rejected these claims, with Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Diosdado Cabello insisting none of those killed was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, as alleged by Washington.

“They openly confessed to killing 11 people,” Cabello said on state television. “Our investigations show the victims were not drug traffickers. A murder has been committed against a group of citizens using lethal force.”

The White House defended the strike, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly calling the victims “evil Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists” and saying that Nicolas Maduro is “not the legitimate president of Venezuela” and is a “fugitive.”

Several countries deny Maduro’s legitimacy as a democratically elected leader due to what some have viewed as unfair elections, but the Trump administration has not provided evidence linking the Venezuelan president to Tren de Aragua. US intelligence agencies have said there is no sign of coordination between the government and traffickers.

Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Venezuelan President Maduro announced the deployment of troops, police and civilian militias across 284 “battlefront” locations, reinforcing previous troop increases along the Colombian border.

Speaking from Ciudad Caribia, Maduro signalled Venezuela’s readiness to defend its water, saying: “We’re ready for an armed fight, if it’s necessary.”

The US has also expanded its military presence in the southern Caribbean, sending warships and deploying 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.

Last month, Washington doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50m, citing alleged drug trafficking and criminal ties, a claim Venezuela denies, asserting it is not a drug-producing country.

A dating website for married people has warned couples against holidaying in a certain Spanish resort that has been dubbed the “marriage killer of Europe” thanks to its high number of infidelity

New research is urging couples to think twice before booking a holiday to one particular Spanish resort that has earned a new and rather infamous nickname – the “marriage killer.”

According to a recent survey by IllicitEncounters, a dating website for people seeking affairs, the holiday town of Magaluf has emerged as the number-one destination for Brits looking to cheat while abroad. Long known for its cheap drinks, sun-soaked beaches, and party-heavy atmosphere, Magaluf is now gaining attention for a less celebratory reason.

More than 2,000 users of the site were polled about the destinations they would choose if they were planning to be unfaithful. Magaluf topped the list, prompting the website to dub it the “marriage destroyer of Europe.”

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Jessica Leoni, a spokesperson for IllicitEncounters, explained that the town’s reputation isn’t just about nightlife — it’s the combination of freedom from routine, warm weather, and easy access to alcohol that creates the perfect environment for holiday flings.

She described this mix as a “trinity” that fuels romance, or something more fleeting and secretive. It’s not just a holiday affair either; according to the survey, 87 percent of those who cheated while in Magaluf kept in touch with their affair partner after returning home.

Back in the UK, another surprising revelation came from the site’s annual Infidelity Index.

Cheltenham, often admired for its elegant charm and home to the prestigious four-day horse racing festival, was crowned the UK’s “new adultery capital.”

According to the data, 6.98 percent of the town’s population engaged in affairs last year. Following closely behind were Farnham in Surrey with 5.99 percent, Motherwell in Lanarkshire with 5.63 percent, Warwick with 5.61 percent, and Braintree in Essex, which reported 5.55 percent.

Elsewhere, other towns showing high levels of infidelity included Rhyl in Denbighshire, where 5.36 percent of people were involved in affairs, and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, with a rate of 5.35 percent.

Meanwhile, towns with slightly lower — but still significant — rates included Newbury in Berkshire (5.23 percent), Frome in Somerset (5.18 percent), and Wilmslow in Cheshire (5.12 percent).

Reflecting on the findings, Jessica said that although places like Cheltenham may appear peaceful and refined on the outside, the data suggests that many relationships behind closed doors tell a different story.

On the opposite end of the scale, Swindon was named the UK’s most faithful town, with just 0.35 percent of its population reportedly engaging in infidelity.

lose behind were Bracknell in Berkshire with 0.36 percent, Dewsbury in West Yorkshire with 0.39 percent, Castlereagh in County Down with 0.44 percent, and Rotherham in South Yorkshire with 0.58 percent.

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North Korean leader says restoration of new vessel named Kang Kon has not delayed Pyongyang’s bid to boost naval power.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promised to build more warships and deploy them to the Pacific Ocean, as he officiated at the relaunching of a destroyer that partially sank during its inauguration last month, state media reports.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that Kim presided over the ceremony for the 5,000-tonne destroyer at the Rajin shipyard in the country’s far north. The ship has been named Kang Kon after a senior North Korean military official who was killed in action during the Korean War.

In a speech at the ceremony on Thursday, Kim was quoted as saying that repairs to the destroyer “had not delayed” North Korea’s attempts to enhance naval power.

“In two weeks’ time, the vessel was brought upright safely and set afloat, accomplishing its complete restoration today as planned,” Kim said, according to KCNA.

The North Korean leader also announced that plans were in place “to build two more 5,000-tonne destroyers next year”, as he called for his country to strengthen its maritime military presence in the Pacific Ocean in the face of what he said were provocations by the United States and its allies.

“Soon, enemies will experience, themselves, how provocative and unpleasant it is to sit and watch the ships of an adversary run rampant on the fringes of sovereign waters,” Kim said.

“I’m sure that in the near future, the routes of our battleships … will be opened on the Pacific Ocean toward the outposts of aggression,” he said.

Recent satellite images had shown ongoing repairs of the Kang Kon destroyer that had partially capsized in May during a botched inaugural launch that Kim described as a “criminal act”.

The newly launched Kang Kon is North Korea’s second known destroyer and is seen as a crucial asset in Kim’s goal of modernising his country’s naval forces.

The South Korean military estimates, based on its size and scale, that the new warship is similarly equipped to the 5,000-tonne destroyer-class vessel Choe Hyon, which North Korea built with Russian assistance and launched in May.

Kim has been pushing for the modernisation of his military and calling for an aggressive response to threats from the US and South Korea, who are key allies and regularly conduct military drills together.

On Wednesday, the White House said that US President Donald Trump would welcome communications with Kim after having had friendly relations with him during his first term in office.

But the South Korea-based NK News, which monitors North Korea, reported recently that Pyongyang’s delegation at the United Nations in New York had repeatedly refused to accept a letter from Trump to Kim.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) is seen anchored in Kanagawa-Prefecture, Japan, in June 2023. On Tuesday, the keel for the future destroyer USS Quentin Walsh (DDG-132), the first Arleigh Burke-class ship to be built in honor of a Coast Guard member, was laid in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Maine. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

May 20 (UPI) — The keel for the future guided-missile destroyer USS Quentin Walsh was officially laid Wednesday in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Maine. It is the first time an Arleigh Burke-class ship will be built in honor of a Coast Guard member.

The keel, the structure at the bottom of the ship’s hull, represents the start of construction or birth of the ship. Madison Ann Zolper, the great-granddaughter of the ship’s namesake Coast Guard Capt. Quentin Walsh, attended Wednesday’s ceremony and welded the family’s initials into the keel plate.

“We are honored to mark the beginning of the construction for the future USS Quentin Walsh and celebrate his legacy with his family,” said Capt. Jay Young, Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer program manager for PEO Ships. “DDG 132 will provide our Navy with critical strategic capabilities to support fleet readiness.”

The Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer, designated as DDG 132, will feature upgraded air and missile defense radar to provide “enhanced war fighting capability to the fleet,” according to the U.S. Navy. The destroyers are designed to fight air, surface and subsurface battles at the same time.

Walsh, who died in 2000 and held various roles in the U.S. Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic actions in the 1944 Battle of Cherbourg during World War II. Walsh’s 53-man reconnaissance unit captured 750 German soldiers and freed 52 American prisoners of war.

Walsh, who also served during the Korean War, was among those honored in France on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

“Capt. Walsh was a hero whose efforts during World War II continue to inspire, and his leadership in securing the French port of Cherbourg had a profound effect on the success of the amphibious operations associated with Operation Overlord,” former Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer said at a 2019 ceremony in Cherbourg.

That same year, Adm. Karl Schultz — former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard — announced the USS Quentin Walsh.

“Naming a future Navy destroyer after Capt. Walsh, the first Arleigh Burke-class ship to be named after a Coast Guard legend, highlights not only his courageous actions but the bravery of all U.S. service members involved in the D-Day invasion of Normandy,” Schultz said in 2019, as the Navy on Tuesday celebrated the start of construction.

“The keel laying of future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132) symbolizes the Navy’s 250-year commitment to innovation and maritime dominance,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement. “This milestone marks the Navy’s enduring legacy and commitment to shaping the future of maritime power.”