The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and three Arleigh Burke-class guided‑missile destroyers transited the Strait of Dover into the North Sea on August 17.

The movement comes as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group's operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.

Why It Matters

The move reinforces a U.S. carrier presence in the Euro-Atlantic region intended to support NATO deterrence and reassurance activities on the alliance's northern flank, where exercises and enhanced vigilance operations have increased since 2022.

The continued U.S. maritime power projection into a strategically important portion of the English Channel and North Sea, regions that NATO has prioritized for deterrence and collective defense since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

What To Know

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