The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, along with the destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, arrived in Manama, Bahrain, for a scheduled port visit on August 10. The visit marks the first time a US aircraft carrier has called at the port since the Nimitz itself last visited in 2020.
The Nimitz is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11 and has its embarked Carrier Air Wing 17. The US Navy stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain is a valued partner and is instrumental in enabling the navy’s ability to operate in the region, supporting logistics, command and control, and fleet readiness.
Rear Adm. Fred Goldhammer, commander of the strike group, stated that the port visit underscores Bahrain’s vital role as an important hub for US Navy operations in the region. He added that the strike group was "honoured" to return as part of its continued operations in the Arabian Gulf.
The visit comes within the context of a more than 70-year bilateral relationship between the US and Bahrain and the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, a framework for cooperation in defence and security.