WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) joined the Fifth Fleet in the Middle East to protect commercial sea lanes and maintain regional stability, the US Navy said in a press release.
“TRCSG's presence in the region is part of a long-standing commitment to stability and the free flow of commerce in the region,” the release, issued on Tuesday, said.
TRCSG includes the flagship Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, a destroyer squadron, a guided-missile cruiser, nine aircraft squadrons and 6,000 sailors and Marines, the Navy said.
The full spectrum of the TRCSG’s capabilities will be called upon and include maritime security operations, strike warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare, the release explained.
The US Fifth Fleet is part of US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) which is responsible for approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
