Latest news with #USCGCMellon
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Asia Map Shows US Coast Guard Ships Given to China's Neighbors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States recently completed the transfer of 10 former Coast Guard ships to four Asian countries, including two involved in territorial disputes with China, a Newsweek map shows. The handover of cutters held both practical and politically symbolic significance in response to China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, where it claims sovereignty over most of the waters, naval analyst Collin Koh told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters In June, the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon—one of 12 Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters—arrived in Vietnam to continue its service with the Southeast Asian nation's coast guard, marking the third transfer of this class of cutter to the country. Three other Hamilton-class ships are serving in the Philippine navy. Both Hanoi and Manila have overlapping sovereignty claims with Beijing in the South China Sea, where China maintains a persistent presence with the world's largest coast guard fleet. China has rapidly expanded its military footprint across the Indian Ocean, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also received a pair of Hamilton-class ships for their navies. What To Know Following the transfer of the final high-endurance cutter to Vietnam, the U.S. Coast Guard announced last week that all Hamilton-class ships had been handed over to their respective foreign recipients as "excess defense articles"—including two vessels delivered to Nigeria. Such transfers of decommissioned vessels align with the country's Indo-Pacific strategy, the U.S. Coast Guard said, as they help bolster security and build partnerships in the region. The 2,700-ton Hamilton-class ships, commissioned between the 1960s and 1970s, have been replaced by the Legend-class national security cutters. Considered the largest and most advanced vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard, they are capable of supporting a wide range of missions. Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore, described the U.S.'s transfer of Hamilton-class cutters to Southeast Asian countries as significant, adding the right type of maritime asset while strengthening their fleets of offshore patrol vessels. Citing challenges—such as higher sea states, vast distances from shore infrastructure and the need for wide-area surveillance and enforcement—the analyst said the offshore patrol vessel was the quintessential asset for missions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Vietnamese coast guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022, which is the former United States Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon, arriving in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18. The Vietnamese coast guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022, which is the former United States Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon, arriving in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18. U.S. Mission to Vietnam While the Pentagon has assessed that the Chinese coast guard possesses more than 150 patrol vessels weighing more than 1,000 tons, Koh argued that neither Vietnam nor the Philippines has a practical need to match China "vessel for vessel" to project a sustained presence. A handful of cutters transferred to these countries would represent a significant leap in their ability to maintain what the analyst called a "sustained peacetime constabulary presence" in the South China Sea as this class of ship is larger and offers greater range and endurance. What People Are Saying The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release on June 27: "Excess Defense Articles (EDA) transfers help to develop relationships with partner nations and allies to enhance the pursuit of cooperatively shared maritime safety and security goals. In addition to building maritime capacity among strategic partners, the EDA program has saved the Coast Guard around $41 million in disposal costs for the decommissioned high endurance cutter fleet." Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studie, told Newsweek: "The [Hamilton-class] ship itself sends a veritable signal of these countries' determination to hold their ground against Chinese transgressions, and also reflects their growing security ties with Washington—which in some ways complicates Beijing's intentions and plans in its exercise of coercion against these [Southeast Asian] rivals." What Happens Next The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. It remains to be seen whether additional military equipment, including decommissioned naval and coast guard ships, will be transferred to countries in the region.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Grows Defense Partnership Next Door to China
The United States has transferred a third coast guard ship to Vietnam, as the former foes expand their defense partnership amid China's growing threats in nearby disputed waters. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. In 1995, the U.S. and Vietnam-former adversaries during the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975-normalized diplomatic relations. Following Washington's lifting of an arms sales ban in 2016, Hanoi acquired military equipment from its new partner, including training aircraft. The bilateral defense cooperation comes against the backdrop of tensions in the South China Sea, where overlapping sovereignty claims by countries such as Vietnam and China, as well as the strong presence of the Chinese coast guard, continue to heighten friction in the region. The U.S. Mission to Vietnam announced on Wednesday that the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon has been transferred to Vietnam as the high-endurance cutter CSB 8022. The ship arrived in Ninh Hoa, south-central Vietnam, the same day following a trans-Pacific voyage that began in Seattle, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. The Vietnam Coast Guard received CSB 8020-formerly USCGC Morgenthau-in 2017 and CSB 8021-formerly USCGC John Midgett-in 2020. All three ships were transferred under a defense cooperation memorandum of understanding, according to the U.S. Mission. "Through this cooperation, the United States and Vietnam is enhancing the development of maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and humanitarian and disaster relief abilities, and supporting capacity to protect sovereignty," the U.S. Mission said in a statement. The former U.S. Coast Guard vessels were built as Hamilton-class cutters designed for extended maritime operations, each weighing over 2,700 tons and having a range of 10,000 miles-the approximate straight-line distance between New York and Melbourne, Australia. This class of cutter is capable of conducting a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, defense operations, and law enforcement. The Mellon was once armed with missiles, torpedoes, and sonar, but all were later removed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The recent transfer of the coast guard ship comes as the U.S. and Vietnam celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. However, an American aircraft carrier canceled its planned visit to Vietnam and transited toward the Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Vietnam Courtney Beale said in a statement on Wednesday: "The United States and Vietnam respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political system, and remain firmly committed to supporting our shared vision of peace and stability, and of prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Mission to Vietnam said on its website: "The United States and Vietnam are trusted partners with a friendship grounded in mutual respect that has developed since the normalization of diplomatic relations on July 11, 1995. U.S.-Vietnam relations have become increasingly cooperative and comprehensive, evolving into a flourishing partnership that spans political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties." The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with countries in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, its mutual defense treaty ally. Whether Washington will provide additional military equipment to boost Vietnam's capabilities remains to be seen. Related Articles Iran Rules Out US Talks Unless Israel Halts StrikesHow to Watch Saudi Arabia vs United States: Live Stream CONCACAF Gold Cup, TV ChannelIran Threatens To Close Strait of Hormuz: What Would Happen?Former Spy Chief: 'Good Case' for US To Strike Iranian Nuclear Site 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Grows Defense Partnership Next Door to China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has transferred a third coast guard ship to Vietnam, as the former foes expand their defense partnership amid China's growing threats in nearby disputed waters. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters In 1995, the U.S. and Vietnam—former adversaries during the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975—normalized diplomatic relations. Following Washington's lifting of an arms sales ban in 2016, Hanoi acquired military equipment from its new partner, including training aircraft. The bilateral defense cooperation comes against the backdrop of tensions in the South China Sea, where overlapping sovereignty claims by countries such as Vietnam and China, as well as the strong presence of the Chinese coast guard, continue to heighten friction in the region. What To Know The U.S. Mission to Vietnam announced on Wednesday that the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon has been transferred to Vietnam as the high-endurance cutter CSB 8022. The ship arrived in Ninh Hoa, south-central Vietnam, the same day following a trans-Pacific voyage that began in Seattle, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. The Vietnam Coast Guard received CSB 8020—formerly USCGC Morgenthau—in 2017 and CSB 8021—formerly USCGC John Midgett—in 2020. All three ships were transferred under a defense cooperation memorandum of understanding, according to the U.S. Mission. "Through this cooperation, the United States and Vietnam is enhancing the development of maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and humanitarian and disaster relief abilities, and supporting capacity to protect sovereignty," the U.S. Mission said in a statement. The former U.S. Coast Guard vessels were built as Hamilton-class cutters designed for extended maritime operations, each weighing over 2,700 tons and having a range of 10,000 miles—the approximate straight-line distance between New York and Melbourne, Australia. The Vietnam Coast Guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022 arrives in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18, 2025. The Vietnam Coast Guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022 arrives in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18, 2025. U.S. Mission to Vietnam This class of cutter is capable of conducting a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, defense operations, and law enforcement. The Mellon was once armed with missiles, torpedoes, and sonar, but all were later removed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The recent transfer of the coast guard ship comes as the U.S. and Vietnam celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. However, an American aircraft carrier canceled its planned visit to Vietnam and transited toward the Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict. What People Are Saying U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Vietnam Courtney Beale said in a statement on Wednesday: "The United States and Vietnam respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political system, and remain firmly committed to supporting our shared vision of peace and stability, and of prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Mission to Vietnam said on its website: "The United States and Vietnam are trusted partners with a friendship grounded in mutual respect that has developed since the normalization of diplomatic relations on July 11, 1995. U.S.-Vietnam relations have become increasingly cooperative and comprehensive, evolving into a flourishing partnership that spans political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties." What Happens Next The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with countries in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, its mutual defense treaty ally. Whether Washington will provide additional military equipment to boost Vietnam's capabilities remains to be seen.
