United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth boarded the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) in Panama City, Panama, on Aug. 13 during a visit that coincides with Panamax 2026, where he emphasized U.S. support for the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition mission to dismantle dangerous narco-terrorists that threaten safety, security, and sovereignty across the Western Hemisphere.
Aboard the ship, Hegseth met with members of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 102, and addressed the crew over the ship’s 1MC. “The defense of the Homeland lives on the USS Gridley,” said Hegseth. “Every aspect of this mission has contributed to ensuring the American people can sleep soundly, because there are sailors like those on USS Gridley, like sailors all around the world right now in tough conditions, who do it because they love their nation.”
Gridley deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in February to escort the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) around South America as part of Operation Southern Seas, then shifted in June to support Operation Southern Spear. The current cruise follows a nine-month deployment across the U.S. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleets that included supporting freedom of navigation in the Arabian Sea and operations to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“On behalf of the President of the United States and the Department of War, USS Gridley, well done,” said Hegseth. “Your tour is almost complete. You’ve done an incredible job. A few more missions to undertake. You’re serving us well. We are so proud of you.”
After transiting the Panama Canal, Gridley is set to operate in the Eastern Pacific in support of Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere, aligning with Department of War-directed operations and presidential priorities to disrupt illicit trafficking, deter malign actors, and protect the homeland, while underscoring professional execution and strong international partnerships.
