US Navy destroyer USS Ross arrives in Mombasa

The guided-missile destroyer USS Ross, a ship recently involved in Middle East operations, arrived in Mombasa on September 5 for a scheduled port visit after supporting Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. blockade against Iran. This visit marks the warship's operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, which spans Europe and Africa, and is intended to showcase U.S.-Kenya security cooperation.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) had been deployed in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations since April, where it supported Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. blockade against Iran. The port call in Mombasa is part of a broader U.S. naval presence in the region, aimed at maintaining the ship's readiness and facilitating professional exchanges with Kenyan partners.

Susan M. Burns, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, emphasized the strength of the U.S.-Kenya partnership and the long-standing cooperation on shared regional interests, such as stability, maritime security, and countering threats like al-Shabaab and ISIS. Burns highlighted that established arrangements between the two countries enable logistical support for U.S. forces operating in the region, with port visits contributing to ship readiness and professional exchanges.

Kenya is an active participant in Exercise Cutlass Express, a U.S.-sponsored multinational maritime-security exercise aimed at enhancing capacity to counter illicit maritime activity and improve cooperation among regional maritime-security agencies. The Navy announced that the USS Ross's Mombasa visit is not linked to its previous operations but is instead a scheduled port visit focused on readiness, logistics, and engagement with Kenyan partners.

Commander Pia Chapman, commanding officer of USS Ross, expressed gratitude to Mombasa residents for welcoming the sailors and noted that the port visit provided the crew an opportunity to rest and recharge after working exceptionally hard throughout the deployment.