US Navy sent guided-missile submarine to Middle East
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The United States Navy has sent nuclear-powered submarines to its base in Bahrain to support its Fifth Fleet.
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The Virginia-class USS North Dakota (SSN 784) submarine is seen during bravo sea trials in this US Navy handout picture taken in the Atlantic Ocean on August 18, 2013. (Reuters)
The US Navy said Saturday that a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine began operations in the Middle East in support of Washington's Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.
The USS Florida arrived in the region on Thursday and began transiting the Suez Canal on Friday, according to Commander Timothy Hawkins.
"It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability," Hawkins said.
This comes amid concerns in the United States about a loss of influence in the region, with growing cooperation between the likes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and regional and international foes of the United States, such as Russia, China, Iran, and Syria.
Read next: KSA Pushing to bring back Damascus into Arab League - reports
CIA Director William Burns met with his counterparts and national leaders in Saudi Arabia to reaffirm intelligence collaboration, a US official said on Thursday.
During his visit, Burns expressed frustration with the Saudis, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported. He told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the US felt blindsided by Riyadh’s rapprochement with Iran and Syria under the auspices of Washington’s global rivals.
Burns' unannounced visit took place following a China-mediated agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing following to re-establish relations.
Read next: West Asia slowly pivots from US: Syria, Saudi Arabia to restore ties
