USS St. Louis, USCGC Pablo Valent bolster maritime ties on Nassau port call

NASSAU, Bahamas — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) and Coast Guard cutter CGC Pablo Valent (WPC-1148) concluded a scheduled port visit to Nassau on Sept. 25 after a series of engagements aimed at strengthening ties with Bahamian and U.S. maritime partners.

During the visit, sailors from both vessels met with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), U.S. Embassy Nassau, and local residents to underscore the value of relationships that support maritime security and cooperation across the Caribbean. The events facilitated exchanges of perspectives, helped build professional relationships, and deepened understanding of each organization’s roles and capabilities.

“Port visits like this are about more than bringing a ship into port; they are about building the relationships and shared understanding that make us more effective maritime partners,” said Cmdr. Patrick Love, commanding officer of St. Louis. “Our engagements with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and our U.S. maritime partners gave our Sailors an opportunity to exchange perspectives, strengthen professional relationships and better understand how we can work together to support maritime security in the region.”

The stop also served to tighten coordination between the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Coast Guard personnel supported joint engagements designed to enhance maritime coordination throughout The Bahamas. A delegation from the RBDF, joined by members of the U.S. Embassy’s Marine Security Guard Detachment, toured both Pablo Valent and St. Louis to learn more about the Coast Guard’s combined military, law enforcement, and response authorities that complement Navy operations. Discussions with embassy representatives, held ahead of U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker’s visit, highlighted how integrated Coast Guard–Navy activities bolster maritime security across The Bahamas and the southern approaches to the United States, consistent with the service’s role within the joint force.

“In an increasingly complex maritime environment, opportunities to train and engage with our Navy and Bahamian partners enhance interoperability and improve collective readiness,” said Lt. Corryn Ulrich, commanding officer of Pablo Valent. “These interactions reinforce our shared commitment to safeguarding the Caribbean and the broader Western Hemisphere maritime approaches.”

Pablo Valent is supporting Coast Guard Southeast District, which oversees operations in South Carolina, Georgia, the Florida Peninsula, Puerto Rico, and the entire Caribbean Basin, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and 32 other countries and territories. The area of responsibility spans 1.8 million square miles and includes the Coast Guard’s largest concentration of cutters and aircraft.

The United States and The Bahamas maintain a longstanding commitment to maritime safety, security, and regional stability. Regular professional exchanges help build the trust and mutual understanding needed for effective cooperation as the maritime environment grows more complex. The ships’ visit reinforced the enduring partnership and the importance of continued engagement among maritime forces operating throughout the Caribbean.

U.S. 2nd Fleet is operating as Maritime Command Element-East under U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, the maritime component of U.S. Northern Command. The command provides maritime forces prepared to conduct homeland defense, civil support operations, and theater security cooperation activities when directed by USNORTHCOM, and supports operational planning and coordination as well as command and control of subordinate forces during joint missions.