5th Fleet Focus: Horn of Africa Getting Hot

The Horn of Africa is starting to boil a bit and could spill into any number of directions. The US and the UN are sounding warnings to both Ethiopia and Eritrea. At the same time, Ethiopia is engaged in skirmishes in Somalia.

Last time the rhetoric and activity both hit a pitch at the same time was in early June when the USS Chafee (DDG 90) ended up firing some cruise missiles into Somalia. It is unclear if or how the US would respond to action this time, however warnings regarding terrorists in Eritrea are probably based on intelligence.

There is one major difference between June and today, there is a MEU in theater not offloaded, something that wasn't the case back in June. It is noteworthy the USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) is set to come home very soon, maybe as early as this week, but with the USS Wasp (LHD 1) delayed for humanitarian support to Honduras in response to Hurricane Felix, they may be on station for another week. Also returning home from the theater shortly will be the USS Normandy (CG 60), which has nearly completed its tour with SNMG1 following the exercises with South Africa. The USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) crossed the Suez last week and will replace the USS Normandy (CG 60) in SNMG1 off the coast of east Africa.

SNMG1 should be somewhere off the eastern African coast this week towards the high piracy areas off Somalia, which may not seem like much, but would free up US forces normally on patrol in that region to other actions closer to the Horn of Africa if necessary. Something to keep an eye on.