U.S. Navy Ship Pioneers New ‘Partnership Station’ Security Strategy

U.S. Navy Ship Pioneers New ‘Partnership Station’ Security Strategy

Last week the U.S. Navy amphibious ship Fort McHenry quietly slipped into the harbor at U.S. Naval Station Rota, Spain, near the Strait of Gibraltar, ending a six-month deployment to the West African coast. The 16,000-ton vessel's mission, though largely unheralded, signaled a sea change in the Navy's strategy.

During its October-to-April cruise, Fort McHenry visited 19 ports in 10 countries, from Liberia to Senegal, supporting scientists, aid workers and military trainers from the U.S. and allied militaries -- and delivering half a million meals to starving families. The Pentagon calls the vessel's mix of training, diplomacy, science and humanitarian assistance the "Africa Partnership Station," and aims to make it a regular affair.

It's all part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates' increasing emphasis on addressing underlying societal ills before they fester into full-blown conflicts. Instead of bombing, shooting and capturing bad guys, "ultimate success or failure will increasingly depend more on shaping the behavior of others -- friends and adversaries, and most importantly, the people in between," Gates said in an April 21 speech in Alabama.

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