Photo By 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner | The Honorable Kenneth Braithwaite, Secretary of the Navy, stands next to a Royal Navy...... read more read more
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(PORTSMOUTH, England) --Leaders from the United States visited the Marines and Sailors aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea, off the coast of Flamborough, yesterday. The civilian and military leaders visited the Royal Navy carrier to receive updates about the historical deployment and meet with the Marines and Sailors.
American political and military leaders included; The Honorable Ambassador Robert W. Johnson IV, Ambassador to the UK, The Honorable Kenneth Braithwaite, Secretary of the Navy, General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, United States Air Force General Tod. D. Wolters, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Sergeant Major Troy Black, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
For decades, the special relationship between the U.S. and UK has formed the cornerstone of the international rules-based order and it will remain equally important as the two nations confront this era of great power competition.
“This deployment shows all you need to know about the Special Relationship.” said Ambassador Johnson, “What America and Britain have together is a level of trust and collaboration that goes beyond any other partnership in the world.”
In addition to a squadron of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B’s, the U.S. Navy is scheduled to deploy an Arleigh-Burke destroyer as well as aviation ordnance Sailors from the USS John C. Stennis to support the Carrier Strike Group throughout its deployment.
“In this era of global connectedness, the strength of our international alliances, partnerships, interoperability, and most especially inter-changeability are imperative. Once again they are as important today as they were 75 years ago during World War II,” said Braithwaite. “On a daily basis, our coalition forces come together to defend freedom, deter war and maintain the rules, which allow for a free and open international order. While the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will always maintain a forward presence to help provide global security and stability, the interoperability as we celebrate today, with such a close ally as the United Kingdom, is key to ensuring future success.”
The Marine Commandant spoke about the importance of the special relationship with the United Kingdom and what it meant for deterring would-be adversaries. He emphasized how the Marines and Sailors aboard were responsible for maintaining the trust between the services built through years of combat together from the trenches of World War I to the battlefields of Afghanistan.
“In today’s operating environment, success will require unity of effort, operational flexibility, and the integrated application of Navy and Marine capabilities in the maritime domain,” said General Berger. “The United States and United Kingdom forward-deployed forces remain ready to respond to crises globally as a combined maritime force-in readiness.”
The U.K. and the U.S. Navy and Marines have not only been successful in combat, but also integrating aboard ship during daily operations to ensure if a crisis occurs, the transition to kinetic operations is seamless.
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, received updates about the F-35B’s integration aboard and how the Carrier Strike Group was ready to support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. While talking to a small group of Marines he donned a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 patch, honoring the “Wake Island Avenger’s” storied history.
An independent yet communal thread each leader emphasized was the strategic significance of allies. This Carrier Strike Group sends a message to would-be adversaries that the United States and her allies are integrated, interoperable, and ready to deter, compete and win.
“It was a privilege to welcome Secretary Braithwaite, Ambassador Johnson, General Berger and General Wolters to the newly formed U.K. Carrier Strike Group.” said Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander U.K. CSG. “Over the past decade, Royal Navy aviators, handlers, engineers and others have been embedded with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps ships and squadrons, learning the skills required for big deck carrier operations. Now we are in a position to offer some serious hard power in return. With USMC and U.K. fifth generation fighters operating in tandem from HMS Queen Elizabeth, Carrier Strike is not only a new capability for Britain, but also for NATO and the United States too. It sends a clear message to friends and foe alike: the United Kingdom is ready to stand by our allies and protect our shared interests, wherever they are threatened. “
The Navy-Marine Corps team is humbled and proud to represent the United States as part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group. The two nations will utilize innovative strategies to combine efforts and resources while collaborating on complex mission sets to maintain the shared global maritime military advantage.
| Date Taken: | 10.02.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2020 04:49 |
| Story ID: | 380068 |
| Location: | GB |
| Web Views: | 395 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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