U.S. will insure and escort oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz during Iran conflict: Trump
‘No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD,’ the president posted on social media
52 stories found
‘No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD,’ the president posted on social media

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that the United States is stepping up its campaign in Iran, widening the scope of airstrikes in the country.

US Navy 'will begin escorting' oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, if necessary, Trump says.
George Mason University is set to establish a new academy focused on accounting and finance, specifically designed to serve the needs of the US Navy.

A series of photos of the fighter jets participating in the attack against Iran was released by the US Navy. USS Abraham Lincoln's American fighter jets ready for combat...

Iran's strike on US Navy base in Bahrain will worry Washington and its allies in the region.
US warships have been involved in air defense operations on Saturday. US Navy photo The US military used a range of weapons, including missiles and drones, to strike Iran on Saturday. American…
Iran launched missile strikes targeting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, causing panic among residents, including Americans. Bahrain confirmed the attack as a violation of its sovereignty.
Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Gulf states amid its war with the US and Israel, as Qatar, UAE and Bahrain intercepted attacks and shut airspace. Iran launched missile… (The post U.S., Israel, Iran war: Iran targets US bases in Qatar, UAE and Bahrain as Gulf states shut airspace is from Doha News | Qatar.)
Bahrain says the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet has been targeted by a missile attack Arab News

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier, is reportedly experiencing issues with its toilet system while en route to the Middle East.

The US Navy has reduced its staff in Bahrain to 'mission critical' levels, officials confirmed, in anticipation of potential strikes on Iran, signaling heightened tensions in the region.
The US Navy has officially approved the use of a new lethal smart weapon, marking a significant advancement in its arsenal.
The deal for the Chinese‑made CM‑302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sits "at the very centre" of overwhelming American firepower now gathering around Iran, retired US Navy admiral James G Stavridis has said.
A 40-year-old employee of a major Japanese trading company is suspected of illegally entering the US Navy's Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture using a forged ID card, prompting a police investigation.
The US Navy is set to hire a private company to oversee a shipbuilding project, marking the first such instance since World War II.
The US has the most expensive military in the world. Tajh Payne/US Navy via Getty Images The International Institute for Strategic Studies compiled data about the world's military budgets. The top militaries spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defense, with the US leading worldwide. President Donald Trump has proposed increasing annual defense spending to $1.5 trillion. The US has the world's most expensive military, spending nearly $1 trillion on defense each year. That's roughly four times China's reported defense budget, the next largest. From spending on nuclear technology to advanced aircraft and warships, the world's top militaries allocate hundreds of billions of dollars each year to stay ahead. In some countries, big-ticket items such as naval assets or technologically advanced aircraft or missiles account for the bulk of military spending, while others devote large sums to maintaining large conscription troop systems. Ultimately, military spending varies by country depending on location and interests, Gian Gentile, a retired US Army colonel and senior historian at RAND, told Business Insider. Some countries prioritize homeland defense while others value overmatch and far-reaching power projection. "The US spends a lot on more sophisticated, extremely precise weapon systems," he said. A military's budget can be measured either as a total amount or as a share of its country's GDP, reflecting the burden on its economy. Worldwide, countries spent an average of 2.4% of their GDP on defense in 2024. Wartime spending as a share of GDP typically rises, putting strain on the civilian economy, said Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ukraine in 2024, for example, devoted over 15% of its GDP to its military, the highest share globally. Spending statistics help paint a picture of defense priorities, but they don't always translate into readiness for conflict. "Readiness is very expensive, and perishable," Cancian said. A country's on-paper investment in its defense systems doesn't always translate directly into military capability, he added. Training and maintenance are often overlooked in analyses of spending on equipment and technologies. A particularly significant cost when it comes to technologically advanced aircraft, for instance, is maintenance and sustainment. Still, looking at military budgets can reveal how much capital each country relies on to defend itself. Last year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank, released its Military Balance report, which included data on nearly every country's defense budget based on each's reported 2024 figures. The report includes each country's total budget (in US dollars), per-capita figures, and defense budget as a share of GDP. Some countries, such as North Korea, Libya, Syria, Cuba, and Afghanistan, did not publicly report their defense budgets. These are the 30 countries that spend the most on their military, ranked by the size of their defense budgets. 30. Qatar KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images Defense budget: $9.66 billion Defense budget per capita: $3,785 Percentage of GDP: 4.36% 29. Norway Yauhen Yerchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Defense budget: $9.79 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,776 Percentage of GDP: 1.94% 28. Mexico Victoria Razo / AFP Defense budget: $10.19 billion Defense budget per capita: $78 Percentage of GDP: 0.55% 27. Indonesia BAY ISMOYO / AFP Defense budget: $10.93 billion Defense budget per capita: $39 Percentage of GDP: 0.78% 26. Sweden Leon Neal/Getty Images Defense budget: $12.25 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,157 Percentage of GDP: 2.01% 25. Iraq Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP Defense budget: $12.68 billion Defense budget per capita: $301 Percentage of GDP: 4.8% 24. Turkey Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images Defense budget: $14.27 billion Defense budget per capita: $170 Percentage of GDP: 1.06% 23. Singapore ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images Defense budget: $15.17 billion Defense budget per capita: $2,517 Percentage of GDP: 2.86% 22. Taiwan I-Hwa Cheng / AFP Defense budget: $18.86 billion Defense budget per capita: $799 Percentage of GDP: 2.43% 21. Spain picture alliance/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Defense budget: $19.44 billion Defense budget per capita: $411 Percentage of GDP: 1.12% 20. Algeria NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Defense budget: $21.4 billion Defense budget per capita: $455 Percentage of GDP: 8.23% 19. United Arab Emirates VCG/VCG via Getty Images Defense budget: $22.27 billion Defense budget per capita: $2,220 Percentage of GDP: 4.09% 18. The Netherlands Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP Defense budget: $23.61 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,328 Percentage of GDP: 1.94% 17. Brazil Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images Defense budget: $24.4 billion Defense budget per capita: $111 Percentage of GDP: 1.11% 16. Canada Artur Widak/NurPhoto Defense budget: $27 billion Defense budget per capita: $696 Percentage of GDP: 1.22% 15. Poland Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto Defense budget: $28 billion Defense budget per capita: $723 Percentage of GDP: 3.25% 14. Ukraine Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / AFP Defense budget: $28.41 billion Defense budget per capita: $797 Percentage of GDP: 15.43% 13. Israel Elke Scholiers/Getty Images Defense budget: $33.75 billion Defense budget per capita: $3,589 Percentage of GDP: 6.39% 12. Italy Antonio Masiello/Getty Images Defense budget: $35.23 billion Defense budget per capita: $578 Percentage of GDP: 1.48% 11. Australia Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images Defense budget: $36.40 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,360 Percentage of GDP: 2.02% 10. South Korea Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Defense budget: $43.88 billion Defense budget per capita: $842 Percentage of GDP: 2.35% 9. Japan JIJI Press / AFP Defense budget: $53.01 billion Defense budget per capita: $430 Percentage of GDP: 1.3% 8. France Philippe Magoni / POOL / AFP Defense budget: $64.03 billion Defense budget per capita: $937 Percentage of GDP: 2.02% 7. Saudi Arabia BANDAR ALDANDANI/AFP via Getty Images Defense budget: $71.73 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,963 Percentage of GDP: 6.52% 6. India Roslan RAHMAN / AFP Defense budget: $74.36 billion Defense budget per capita: $53 Percentage of GDP: 1.91% 5. United Kingdom Owen Humphreys - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images Defense budget: $81.06 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,184 Percentage of GDP: 2.26% 4. Germany Michaela Stache / AFP Defense budget: $85.98 billion Defense budget per capita: $1,022 Percentage of GDP: 1.83% 3. Russia VCG/VCG via Getty Images Defense budget: $120.32 billion Defense budget per capita: $854 Percentage of GDP: 5.51% 2. China Greg Baker / AFP Defense budget: $234.98 billion Defense budget per capita: $166 Percentage of GDP: 1.29% 1. United States Mario Tama/Getty Images Defense budget: $967.96 billion Defense budget per capita: $2,831 Percentage of GDP: 3.32% Read the original article on Business Insider

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary," amid growing concerns about the impact of the US-Israel conflict with Iran on oil shipments in the strategically vital waterway. Trump made the remarks in a social media post as the US military operation against Iran, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," entered its fourth day, deepening worries about disruptions to shipping along the strait, which is responsible for about one-fif
The US Navy's intelligence chief reports that China is making a significant strategic shift towards building only nuclear-powered submarines, while also increasing its overall submarine production capacity.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States Navy will escort commercial oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed during the ongoing conflict with Iran, and...

Footage shows a huge fire reportedly ignited by an Iranian strike on a US naval facility at Bahrain’s Salman Port.
Tomahawk cruise missiles were part of the strike package launched against Iran during "Epic Fury." US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Word The US fired Tomahawk cruise…

Iranian drones reportedly struck a residential building near the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and Kuwait International Airport, causing injuries and damage to the passenger terminal.
An article explains the strategic and practical reasons why the US Navy still employs ships with wooden hulls, highlighting a clever design choice.

Bahraini authorities confirmed that the area of Juffair, where the US naval headquarters is located, was hit.

Iran has vowed to carry out retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran on Saturday morning. The post One person in killed in UAE…
A fighter jet launches from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in February. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathaly Cruz US forces are actively engaged in air defense…

The US Navy has reduced its personnel in Bahrain to a 'critical level,' reminiscent of the evacuation before 'Operation Midnight Hammer' when the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, amid ongoing tensions and negotiations in Geneva.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, en route to the Middle East, was forced to stop in Malta due to a failure in its toilet management system, unable to handle the waste of 4,600 personnel.

Esta quarta-feira de manhã, para além dos 15 reabastecedores, estacionados na mesma posição há quase uma semana, havia apenas na pista uma aeronave C-130 da US Navy.

An analysis by a former US Navy officer warns of a potential global conflict due to US-Iran tensions, drawing parallels to Sarajevo 1914 amidst rising Russian and Chinese influence.

US President Donald Trump offered to deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging widespread illness, but Greenland rejected the plan, noting both US Navy hospital ships were docked in Alabama.
In a historic move, the U.S. Navy will hire a private company to oversee a major shipbuilding project, a first since World War II.
The U.S. Navy is set to hire a private company to oversee a major shipbuilding project, marking the first time such a move has occurred since World War II.

US President Donald Trump has said the country's navy will protect ships in the Middle East "if necessary" in a bid to stop the energy supply crunch sparked by the war with Iran.
President Donald Trump offered political risk insurance for "ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy." Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump offered political risk insurance for "ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy." The president also said on Truth Social that the US Navy will also provide an escort "if necessary." Fighting in the Middle East is affecting vessels near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered political risk insurance an...
An EA-18G Growler prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Sunday. US Navy photo The US and Israel said they achieved localized air superiority over Iran during the…

Iran's strike on US Navy base in Bahrain will worry Washington and its allies in the region.
Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Iranian retaliatory actions are reported across the Middle East, including missile strikes on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah island and other areas with US military bases.

Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain.

Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain.

Explosions rocked northern Israel as the country worked to intercept incoming Iranian missiles.

Bahrain has confirmed that the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet was targeted in a rocket attack.

The president has commanded a massive military buildup in the region, as he negotiates a new nuclear deal with Iran.
Ten suspects, including nine US Navy service members, have been arrested in connection with an assault that occurred in Jamul last year.

Iran is reportedly nearing a deal with China to purchase anti-ship cruise missiles that could potentially reach US Navy forces in the region, with negotiations accelerating after a 12-day exercise last June.
The USS Truxtun collided with a support ship in the Caribbean Sea earlier this monthi. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan Colosanti/US Navy The US Navy fired the USS Truxtun commander after a ship collision during resupply. Collision highlights risks of at-sea logistics amid US naval operations. Truxtun, part of the US campaign in the Caribbean, is now in port for evaluation. The US Navy abruptly fired the commander of guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun after his ship collided wit...
The USS Lionfish docked at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The USS Lionfish was commissioned in 1944 and earned one battle star for service in World War II. It sank a Japanese submarine, rescued the crew of a B-29 bomber, and served as a training submarine. The Balao-class submarine is now a museum docked at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. The World War II submarine USS Lionfish was part of America's "Silent Service." Despite comprising less than 2% of all US Navy vessels during World War II, submarines like the USS Lionfish sank 55% of Japanese vessels in battle. This once-fearsome vessel is now a 311-foot-long museum exhibit, allowing the public to learn about its top-secret wartime operations. Take a look inside the USS Lionfish. Commissioned in 1944, the USS Lionfish earned one battle star for service during World War II. The USS Lionfish at sea in an undated photo. Arkivi/Getty Images Over the Balao-class submarine's two war patrols, she sank a Japanese submarine, destroyed a schooner, and rescued the crew of a downed American B-29 bomber. The USS Lionfish was recommissioned for the Korean War, serving from 1951 to 1953. From 1960 to 1971, the USS Lionfish served as a reserve training submarine, teaching crew members to operate similar vessels. Since 1973, the USS Lionfish has been on display at Battleship Cove, a maritime museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. The USS Lionfish. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Tickets to Battleship Cove cost $25 per adult. I visited the museum in January to take a closer look at the retired submarine. The first stop on my self-guided tour was the forward torpedo room, where 16 torpedomen slept and worked. The forward torpedo room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The forward torpedo room featured six torpedo tubes, each storing a torpedo, and 10 reloads. The 16 crew members slept alongside the torpedoes on pull-out bunks, remaining ready to fire at all times. Behind the torpedo room was officers' country, which included the officers' pantry. The officers' pantry. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider In the officers' pantry, meals for the higher-ranking crew members were reheated and plated on Navy china. They ate the same food as the rest of the sailors, but in a fancier setting. Officers used the wardroom for dining, working, and relaxing. The wardroom on board the USS Lionfish. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider It could also serve as an operating room in medical emergencies. Junior officers slept in a room with four bunks. The junior officers' quarters. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Officers enjoyed more privacy on board than enlisted men. Senior officers had even more privacy in a room with a triple bunk. The senior officers' quarters. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The submarine's second-in-command, known as the executive officer, slept in this room. The commanding officer slept in the only private room on board the submarine. The commanding officer's stateroom. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The commanding officer's stateroom featured a small desk that functioned as a private workspace. Chief petty officers slept five to a room in their quarters. The chief petty officers' quarters. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Chief petty officers served as liaisons between the officers and the crew. This room was also colloquially known as the "goat locker" since the more experienced officers were affectionately nicknamed "old goats." In the ship's office, an administrator known as the yeoman handled all of the ship's paperwork. The ship's office. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Personnel files, orders of supplies, and other administrative tasks were the yeoman's domain. Equipment in the control room managed the submarine's depth, speed, steering, and navigation. The control room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The commanding officer issued orders from the control center or the conning tower located directly above. The USS Lionfish's conning tower wasn't open to the public, but I did get to look inside one while touring another Balao-class submarine, the USS Becuna. Communications and covert operations were handled in the radio room. The radio room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The USS Lionfish was equipped with sonar, or "sound navigation and ranging," to listen for enemy ships in the surrounding waters. Chefs prepared meals for the submarine's 80 crew members in the main galley. The main galley. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The galley prepared four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight rations known as "mid-rats." The crew's mess was an all-purpose room where sailors ate, lounged, and played games. The crew's mess. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Frozen and refrigerated food was stored in compartments underneath the floor. The bunks have been removed from the crew's berthing during ongoing restoration work. The crew's berthing. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Other Balao-class submarines held 35 or 36 bunks in this space. The USS Lionfish featured two engine rooms, each containing two diesel engines. The forward engine room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Each engine room was responsible for half of the ship's electric and propulsion power. In the maneuvering room, switches controlled the flow of electricity to the submarine's generators. The maneuvering room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider While surfaced, the submarine's four diesel engines powered its generators, which in turn powered the ship's motors. While submerged, storage batteries powered the motors. My tour ended with the after torpedo room at the back of the submarine. The after torpedo room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Around 13 enlisted men worked and slept in the after torpedo room, which featured four torpedo tubes. The USS Lionfish remains unique among World War II submarines. The USS Lionfish docked at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Over 50 submarines underwent a Greater Underwater Propulsive Power 1-A, or "GUPPY," modernization after World War II. However, the USS Lionfish remained as it was. Museum staff and volunteers are working to restore the USS Lionfish and preserve its original configuration. Even in frigid temperatures, I saw volunteers holding tools and walking carefully around the deck's open panels, revealing the complex mechanics beneath. Read the original article on Business Insider
In a first since WWII, the US Navy will hire a company to oversee a shipbuilding project, marking a significant shift in its procurement strategy.
The US Navy is increasing its military presence in the Middle East, deploying additional warships including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the destroyer USS Spruance.