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Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, left, signs a memorandum of agreement as Vice Adm. Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón, commander of the Colombian Navy, observes during the United States - Colombia Maritime Staff Talks closing ceremony March 27, 2026 in Cartagena, Colombia. Sardiello, led the U.S. delegation for the annual Maritime Staff Talks, reaffirming the enduring partnership between the two nations and outlining a path for future collaboration in the maritime domain. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet serves as a trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central, and South American maritime forces, working to promote unity, security, and stability throughout the region.

March 30, 2026

U.S. and Colombian Navies Reinforce Partnership at Maritime Staff Talks

CARTAGENA, Colombia — Senior naval leaders from the United States and Colombia convened in Cartagena from March 24-27, 2026 for the annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST), reaffirming the enduring partnership between the two nations and outlining a path for future collaboration in the maritime domain.

The official logo for Southern Seas 2026. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment. Southern Seas aims to enhance regional maritime partnerships, interoperability, and security throughout the Caribbean, Central, and South America.

March 23, 2026

U.S. 4th Fleet Announces Southern Seas 2026 Deployment

SAN DIEGO — Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment.

The world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), transits the Strait of Gibraltar, Nov. 4, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group 12, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Triniti Lersch)

Nov. 11, 2025

Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group Enters U.S. Fourth Fleet

WESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN — The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), entered the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR), Nov. 11. The maritime forces’ arrival comes after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the Carrier Strike Group to support the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland.

Oct. 1, 2025

Lapse of Appropriations Statement

Lapse in Appropriations: The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status. Please reference resources link for more information: https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4319360/fy26-lapse-of-appropriations-department-of-the-navy-resources-for-sailors-marin/

MAYPORT, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2025) Navy and Marine leaders celebrated the opening of UNITAS 2025 from onboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport docking ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) at Naval Station Mayport September 15, 2025. During UNITAS 2025 the 25 participating nations' forces will perform at-sea, littoral, and amphibious exercises along the East Coast of the United States in advance of the U.S. Navy's 250th Birthday. UNITAS, Latin for Unity, focuses on enhanced interoperability, building regional partnerships, and demonstrating U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet as the trusted maritime partner in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist Steven Khor/Released)

Sept. 15, 2025

UNITAS 2025 Kicks off at Naval Station Mayport

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. — UNITAS 2025 officially kicked off at an opening ceremony aboard Naval Station Mayport, Sept. 15. UNITAS, Latin for unity, united, or oneness, is the longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise in the world. UNITAS is featuring approximately 8,000 personnel from 25 allied and partner nations, including multiple ships, submarines, and aircraft (fixed wing and rotary). Forces will conduct operations off the East Coast of the United States and ashore in the vicinity of Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Naval Station Norfolk, Va. through October 6.

Depicted is the U.S. Navy’s UNITAS 2025 logo. This year’s UNITAS, set for September, is the longest-running, multinational maritime exercise in the world. UNITAS 2025 will combine the efforts of Allies and Partners from across the globe and serve as the warfighting introduction to Navy 250 – the U.S. Navy’s year-long birthday celebration. 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. 13, 2025

UNITAS 2025 To Be Held Across Multiple Locations Along the East Coast of United States

MAYPORT, Fla. — U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and participating nation forces are set to arrive at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., in support of UNITAS 2025 (66) the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise, scheduled to start September 15, 2025.

The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departs from Port of Spain, Trinidad after the final mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025, Aug. 11, 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is the 16th iteration of the U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-led mission since 2007, which aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and form new partnerships between host nations, non-federal entities, and international organizations.

Aug. 12, 2025

USNS Comfort Departs Trinidad Final CP25 Mission Stop

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed from Port of Spain, Trinidad, August 11, 2025, the last mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25). During the seven-day visit, the team worked alongside Trinbagonians to provide medical care and support construction projects, community relations events and side-by-side training in several subject matter exchanges.

The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrives in Port of Spain, Trinidad during Continuing Promise 2025, August 5, 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is the 16th iteration of the U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-led mission since 2007, which aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and form new partnerships between host nations, non-federal entities, and international organizations.

Aug. 5, 2025

USNS Comfort Arrives at Final CP25 Mission Stop in Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad, August 5, 2025, for the final mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25). The Comfort team will work alongside Trinbagonian medical professionals to provide medical care, including adult care, pediatric care, dental services, optometry, women’s health services, and various ancillary support services.

Sailors assigned to the Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) assist a patient departing Comfort in Limón, Costa Rica during Continuing Promise 2025, July 28, 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is the 16th iteration of the U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-led mission since 2007 which aims to foster goodwill strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations and form new partnerships between host nations non-federal entities and international organizations.

Aug. 3, 2025

USNS Comfort Departs Costa Rica After Fifth CP25 Mission Stop

LIMÓN, Costa Rica — The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed from Limón, Costa Rica, August 1, 2025, after spending eight days providing medical care, dental care, veterinary care, and multiple subject matter exchanges for Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25).

LIMÓN, Costa Rica (July 24, 2025) The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrives in Limón, Costa Rica during Continuing Promise 2025, July 24, 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is the 16th iteration of the U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-led mission since 2007, which aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and form new partnerships between host nations, non-federal entities, and international organizations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Deven Fernandez)

July 24, 2025

USNS Comfort Arrives in Limón, Costa Rica for CP25

LIMÓN, Costa Rica — The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Limón, Costa Rica, July 24, 2025, for the fifth mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25). This visit marks the sixth CP mission stop to Costa Rica since its inception in 2007, and the third visit aboard Comfort in support of CP.

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