On 24 August 2019 the U.S. 2nd Fleet marked the 1st anniversary of its Establishment Ceremony,which took place aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Norfolk,Virginia.The Fleet was given the following Mission:
To develop and employ maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access,deter aggression,and defend U.S.,allied and partner interests.*
Writing for the Business Insider website,the commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk,VADM Andrew Lewis,said that:
The last time 2nd Fleet existed,the world looked very different than it does now:Today maritime superiority,vital to our national security,has been placed at risk by resurgent powers,namely Russia and China,seeking to supplant the US as the partner of choice around the world.The 2nd Fleet of today has redirected its strategic focus from mainly training units to deploy to regional conflicts in the Middle East to operating high-end naval forces and developing tactics to deter potential conflicts,to include near-peer adversaries in the North Atlantic and Arctic.*
We must be present in contested spaces-and virtual presence is not true presence.US 2nd Fleet is focused on the waters from the East Coast to the Arctic,Norway,and approaches of the Baltic and Azores.*
VADM Lewis continued:
Russia considers itself THE great power in the Arctic,and China is certainly interested in the hydrocarbon and fish available in those waters.If we do not get into the Arctic with a measured and deliberate approach,the area is destined for conflict.*
The greatest challenge I have faced is disrupting the sense of normalcy established during years of fighting FROM the sea,rather than fighting UPON the sea.We need to take a close look at the assets we have and ensure we are employing them appropriately and fighting as fleets rather than task groups or units.*
We are building US 2nd Fleet to be the market disrupter that changes the way we fight as a fleet-as a coalition-and in doing so,we will be ready to fight.*
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