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U.S. and partner nation flag and general officers participate in the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course at the U.S. Southern Command Conference Center of the Americas, March 21-25. Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, and the U.S. Naval War College co-hosted the course, which seeks to improve the effectiveness of senior leaders who routinely function together at the operational level of command and control. This year, 28 leaders from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay along with leader from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and National Guard participated in the course.

April 1, 2022

CFMCC 2022 Strengthens Partnerships

MIAMI, Fla. — Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and the U.S. Naval War College co-hosted the 2022 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course at the U.S. Southern Command Conference Center of the Americas, March 21-25.

March 23, 2022

U.S. and Ecuador Strengthen Ties on Land and at Sea

MANTA, Ecuador — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and the Ecuadorian Coast Guard conducted a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Manta, Ecuador, March 21, 2022.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) sails in formation with the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783), the Colombian navy submarine ARC Pijao (SSK-28), Colombian navy Dauphin helicopters, and Colombian navy maritime patrol aircraft during a bilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise, Feb. 27, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron Lau/Released)

Feb. 28, 2022

U.S. and Colombia Conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise in Caribbean Sea

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) and the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) conducted a bilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training exercise in the Caribbean Sea with the Colombian navy, Feb. 27-28.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and French navy Floreal-class frigate FS Germinal (F 735) conduct a bilateral maritime exercise in the Caribbean Sea.

Feb. 28, 2022

U.S. and France Demonstrate Interoperability in the Caribbean

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) executed a bilateral maritime exercise with the French Navy off the coast of Martinique, France, June 23 while operating in the Caribbean Sea.

CARIBBEAN SEA (Feb. 9, 2022) The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel HMJS Alexander Bustamante and a JDF Air Wing Bell 429 helicopter conduct a bilateral maritime exercise, Feb. 9, 2022. Milwaukee is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danielle Baker/Released)

Feb. 10, 2022

Milwaukee Conducts Bilateral Maritime Exercise with Jamaica Defence Force

CARIBBEAN SEA — CARIBBEAN SEA - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel HMJS Alexander Bustamante conducted a bilateral maritime exercise in the Caribbean Sea, Feb. 9, 2022.

Approximately 315 kilograms of suspected cocaine sits on the flight deck of USS Milwaukee.

Jan. 18, 2022

USS Milwaukee Seizes $22 Million in Suspected Cocaine

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 402 seized an estimated $22 million in suspected cocaine, Jan. 7, 2022.

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MAYPORT, Fla. – (Dec. 14, 2021) -- Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, delivers opening remarks during the annual Maritime Synchronization Conference onboard Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 14, 2021. The conference joins U.S. Navy attachés, section chiefs and other theater stakeholders from the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America to discuss common naval issues and concerns to develop innovative solutions for current and future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Khor/Released)

Dec. 17, 2021

U.S. 4th Fleet Hosts Maritime Synchronization Conference to Strengthen Partnerships

MAYPORT, Fla. — Focused on the future, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet hosted its annual Maritime Synchronization Conference (MSC) onboard Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 14-17.

Dec. 17, 2021

USS Sioux City Returns Home for the Holidays

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 17, 2021, after completing its deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.

Senior Chief Navy Diver Sean McConnell, a master diver assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, watches as wreckage separated from a sunken vessel is hauled up and moved into wet storage.

Nov. 23, 2021

U.S. 4th Fleet Completes Salvage Operation in Panama

PANAMA CITY — Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Sailors and personnel from the Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) completed a salvage operation at Vasco Nuñez de Balboa port in Panama City, Nov. 22.

Nov. 22, 2021

U.S. Navy Conducts Salvage Operation in Panama

PANAMA CITY — U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet deployed personnel to Vasco Nuñez de Balboa port in Panama to conduct a salvage operation Oct. 29.

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