Navy port calls in Libya end half-century lull as US seeks to fortify North Africa presence

USS Mount Whitney visit ends, marking deeper US push into Libya

A high-level US delegation concluded a two-day visit to Libya on Monday aboard the USS Mount Whitney, the command ship of the US Sixth Fleet, in a move widely seen as a significant escalation of Washington’s military and political interest in the country. The delegation included Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland, and the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy Berndt. The visit, which included stops in Tripoli and …

Navy port calls in Libya end half-century lull as US seeks to fortify North Africa presence

The Navy’s first port calls to Libya in more than five decades this week, to Tripoli and Benghazi, likely are intended to send a clear message to Russia and China about U.S. resolve across the Mediterranean region, analysts say.

USS Mount Whitney Promotes Regional Stability

APRIL 22, 2025 – The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), arrived in Libya for scheduled port visits, April 20-21, in support of enduring U.S.-Libya cooperation and regional security. While in Libya, Mount Whitney visited both Tripoli and Benghazi for key engagements with leaders from across the country. Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, Ambassador Richard Norland, the U.S. special envoy for …