# maritime security
Latest news and articles about maritime security
Total: 8 articles found
F‑35 Downs Iranian Drone as IRGC Fast Boats Harass U.S.‑Flagged Tanker — Diplomacy on a Knife‑Edge
A U.S. F‑35C shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, and IRGC fast boats later harassed a U.S.‑flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents occurred as fragile talks between Washington and Tehran were being arranged, highlighting the risks that operational friction could derail diplomacy and raise the chance of miscalculation in regional waters.
US Destroyer Departs Eilat as Fifth Fleet Reaffirms Routine Presence in Red Sea Corridor
The US destroyer USS Delbert D. Black left the Israeli port of Eilat on 1 February after a routine visit, US Central Command and the Fifth Fleet said on social media. CENTCOM also released images of maintenance aboard another deployed destroyer, underscoring ongoing US naval presence and sustainment operations in the Middle East maritime corridor.
After Manila Declares No‑Sail Zone at Scarborough, PLA Sends a Stark Message
The Philippines declared a no‑sail zone near Scarborough Shoal, prompting Chinese commentary that the PLA responded with operations intended to ‘‘slap’’ Manila down. The episode highlights the fragile mix of routine maritime measures and high-stakes geopolitics in the South China Sea, with risks of further escalation unless diplomatic de‑escalation follows.
US Destroyer Concludes Port Call to Eilat, Reinforcing Red Sea Presence
The USS Delbert D. Black completed a port call to Eilat on 1 February before departing, a move framed by the US Fifth Fleet as routine but strategically significant. The visit reinforces Washington's maritime presence in the Red Sea corridor, signaling deterrence and reassurance to regional partners amid persistent security risks to shipping.
USS Abraham Lincoln Filmed Replenishing at Sea as Carrier Strike Group Deploys to Middle East
The US released video showing USS Abraham Lincoln conducting underway replenishment in the Arabian Sea on January 27, posted by DVIDS on January 31. The carrier strike group's deployment to the Middle East is framed by CENTCOM as a move to promote regional stability, signalling sustained US naval presence amid heightened maritime risks.
Beijing’s Show of Force Over Scarborough: Armed PLA Flights as Manila’s Exercise Zone Escalates Tensions
China staged naval patrols and armed air overflights near Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines included the feature in a declared exercise zone, signalling Beijing’s readiness to defend what it calls sovereign territory. The episode increases the risk of miscalculation and highlights the limits of legal rulings and the growing role of calibrated coercion in the South China Sea.
China’s Coast Guard Signals Near‑Constant Presence Around Diaoyu Islands as Patrols Surge
China’s Coast Guard reports 550,000 vessel sorties and 6,000 air missions since the 2021 Coast Guard Law, with patrols around the Diaoyu Islands reaching 357 days in 2025. The data signal a sustained, law‑framed push to normalize Chinese control in contested maritime zones, complicating ties with Japan, the United States and Southeast Asian claimants.
Tokyo Signs Logistics Pact with Manila, Deepening Military Ties and Raising Tensions over China
Japan and the Philippines signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement that will let their forces exchange supplies duty-free during joint operations, accompanied by Japanese security aid and coastal radar deliveries. Tokyo presents the pact as disaster-response and interoperability cooperation, but it also deepens military ties that could strengthen deterrence against China and raise regional tensions.