U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command > Press Room

UNITAS LXV commenced today in Valparaiso, Chile, with 17 ships, two submarines, and 23 aircraft operated and supported by more than 4,300 Sailors and Marines from 24 nations. UNITAS is the world's longest-running multinational maritime exercise, conceived in 1959 and executed without fail since 1960.

Sept. 2, 2024

VALPARAISO, Chile — Navy and Marine forces arrived in Valparaiso in support of UNITAS LXV (65), the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, which officially commenced September 2, 2024. The Chilean navy is hosting this year's UNITAS, which will feature 17 warships/vessels, two submarines, 20 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and more than 4,300 personnel from 24 partner nations. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, and ashore in the vicinity of Puerto Aldea, Chile, through September 12.

Rear Adm. Carlos A. Sardiello, newly appointed commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, gives remarks during the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station Mayport, Florida, August 1, 2024. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the maritime component of U.S. Southern Command and the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability.

Aug. 2, 2024

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Conducts Change of Command Ceremony

MAYPORT, Fla. — Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello relieved Rear Adm. James Aiken as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet) during a change of command ceremony at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center onboard U.S. Naval Station Mayport.

Ship’s Third Mate William Trager, assigned to Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), communicates with port operations personnel during the ship’s arrival in Limón, Costa Rica for Continuing Promise 2024. During Continuing Promise 2024, U.S. Navy and Army professionals work closely with host nation civilian and military professionals and leadership, non-federal entities, and interagency partners to strengthen relationships, build partner capacity, and improve interoperability.

July 19, 2024

USNS BURLINGTON ARRIVES IN LIMÓN, COSTA RICA, FOR CONTINUING PROMISE 2024 DEPLOYMENT

LIMÓN, Costa Rica — USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), an expeditionary fast transport ship, arrived in Limon, Costa Rica, July 16, 2024 as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2024.

Private Espuet Jahmoy, center, from the Jamaica Defence Force, discusses the exercise with his group at the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Symposium focusing on the prevention of gender-based violence as part of Continuing Promise 2024. Continuing Promise 2024 marks the 14th mission to the region since 2007, which aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries’ non-government organizations, and international organizations.

July 15, 2024

Continuing Promise 2024 hosts Women, Peace and Security Symposium in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2024 mission kicked off a multi-day Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Symposium at Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Up Park Camp in Kingston, Jamaica.

Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Smith, Continuing Promise 2024 Mission Commander, and Lt. Daniel Ehrlich, Continuing Promise 2024 Public Affairs Officer, greet U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry prior to his visit and tour of Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) at Kingston Wharves.

July 12, 2024

Continuing Promise 2024 Holds Ceremony for Official Transfer of Donations

KINGSTON, Jamaica (July 10, 2024) U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet's Continuing Promise 2024 mission held a ceremony in front of the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) commemorating the official transfer of medical supplies and hurricane relief donations from the mission on behalf of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the government of Jamaica. This ceremony was done in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy, Jamaica and held at Kingston Wharves.

The USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) departs Naval Station Mayport for Continuing Promise 2024 on July 3, 2024. Continuing Promise 2024 marks the 14th mission to the region since 2007 and the second aboard USNS Burlington. The mission will foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-government organizations, and international organizations.

July 4, 2024

USNS Burlington Departs for Continuing Promise 2024 Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The U.S. Navy Spearhead-class fast transport ship, USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), departed from Naval Station Mayport for Latin America and the Caribbean in support of Continuing Promise 2024.

Expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EFP 10) arrives in Santa Marta, Colombia, Aug. 20, 2023.

June 11, 2024

U.S. 4th Fleet Announces Continuing Promise 2024 Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — MAYPORT, Fla. - (June 10, 2024) -- The U.S. Navy expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) will deploy this July and August to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2024 mission. After several months of detailed planning, USNS Burlington is scheduled to visit Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Panama during the nearly two month-long mission.

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 work together to intercept a self-propelled semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel (SPSS), in the Atlantic Ocean, March 22, 2024. Leyte Gulf is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of operations, employed by U.S. Fourth Fleet to support joint and combined military operations, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.

April 8, 2024

USS Leyte Gulf Takes Down Semi-Submersible Vessel

ATLANTIC OCEAN — The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), has made multiple drug interdictions in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of operations (AOR).

The ship's are deployed as part of Southern Seas 2024 which seeks to enhance capability, improve interoperability, and strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the region through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation." (

April 6, 2024

U.S. 4th Fleet Announces Southern Seas 2024 Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations over the next few months as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2024 deployment.

USS Farragut (DDG 99) moors at U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., following a deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility supporting Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF)-South’s counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability.

Feb. 3, 2024

USS Farragut Returns Home Following a Successful SOUTHCOM Deployment

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. — MAYPORT, Fla. – The Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) returned to U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Feb. 3, 2024, following the ship’s successful deployment under U.S. 4th Fleet to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

This is an official U.S. Navy website