By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Mombasa, 7 September 2026 The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ross arrived in Mombasa on Sept. 5 for a scheduled port visit, the U.S. Sixth Fleet said, as Washington and Kenya cooperate on regional security and maritime safety.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is expected to use the visit for logistics and resupply while giving sailors an opportunity to engage with Kenyan maritime partners and the local community, the Navy said.
The visit underscores the longstanding security partnership between the United States and Kenya, which share interests in regional stability and maritime security, the Sixth Fleet said.
"This visit reflects the practical strength of the U.S.-Kenya partnership," said Susan M. Burns, charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya.
Burns said arrangements between the two countries allow logistical support for U.S. forces operating in the region, while port visits provide opportunities for professional exchanges with Kenyan counterparts.
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Kenya takes part annually in Exercise Cutlass Express, a U.S.-sponsored multinational maritime security exercise in East Africa and the western Indian Ocean. The exercise is aimed at strengthening participating countries' ability to counter illicit activity at sea.
The United States said it remains committed to working with Kenyan partners against shared security threats, including al-Shabab and Islamic State militants.
The USS Ross has been operating in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area since April, supporting military operations in the region, according to the Sixth Fleet.
The destroyer deployed in March as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group and is now operating in the Sixth Fleet area, which covers Europe and Africa.
The Sixth Fleet said its naval forces conduct operations alongside allies, partners and other agencies to advance U.S. interests and promote security and stability in Europe and Africa.