The US Navy announced that a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine, the USS Florida, is being deployed to the Middle East to provide support to the US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain to ensure regional maritime security and stability. Commander Timothy Hawkins said the USS Florida, capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, arrived in the region last Thursday and began transiting the Suez Canal the following day.
The US Navy spokesman in Bahrain declined to provide further details about the mission or to specify whether the submarine was headed for the Persian Gulf, as this would violate operational security protocols. The US Navy has a significant presence in the region and has increased its presence in recent years, which has raised concerns in some countries in the area.
The USS Florida is capable of carrying a large number of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are long-range weapons capable of striking land and sea targets with precision. The submarine is one of the US Navy’s most advanced weapons, and its deployment in the Middle East may be seen as a message of deterrence to those who could threaten US interests in the region. However, the deployment may also increase tensions in an already tense area.