It is rare for a warship like the Gravely to participate in activities so close to the United States, as the Coast Guard usually maintains a stronger presence in those waters.
The Trump administration’s much-promised militarization of the ongoing war against Mexico’s drug cartels, as well as its attempt to better secure America’s porous southwestern border with Mexico, is underway. United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) recently announced that it would send the USS Gravely (DDG-107), a powerful Arleigh Burke-class Guided-Missile Destroyer, to the recently-renamed “Gulf of America” to support security operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
It is believed that a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) will be onboard the Gravely as it aids the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in stabilizing and securing the border.
When he first took office, President Trump initiated a massive wave of deportations, targeting hardened criminal elements who had entered the country illegally. Increases in the number of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) operations against illegal immigration activity along the border intensified as well. Perhaps most importantly, large-scale deployments of U.S. military elements to the border began shortly after Trump’s inauguration—reinforcing the new president’s devotion to securing the border.
America Must Have “Escalation Dominance” With the Cartels
Don’t forget about the use of two old U.S. Marine Corps Harrier jets to test bombs at the Chocolate Mountain test range 25 miles north of the border with Mexico. That exercise was a signal to the cartels that the Trump administration meant business. What’s more, Trump labeled Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” (FTOs), giving him greater flexibility in dealing with them. And amidst these moves, he initiated a brutal trade war with Mexico.
Now comes the deployment of the USS Gravely into the fray.
The Gravely returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024, after a dangerous nine-month deployment to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden along with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Carrier Strike Group fighting the Houthi threat in Yemen. It is rare for a warship like the Gravely to participate in activities so close to the United States, as the Coast Guard usually maintains a stronger presence in those waters.
A destroyer like the Gravely, though, with its advanced radar and missile systems could be much more useful for a militarized counter-narcotics and border security operation that the Trump administration seems to be planning.
Already, multiple Poseidon P-8 reconnaissance planes have been tracked running surveillance operations into and around Mexico from U.S. bases. The deployment of such birds is usually a signal that military activity is readying to ramp up.
And, indeed, the stationing of the Gravely so close to Mexican waters indicates that the U.S. Navy is prepared to support whatever operations the Trump administration has planned against the Mexican drug cartels.
Understanding the Potency of Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are highly capable and versatile warships in the United States Navy. Named after renowned World War II Admiral Arleigh Burke, these ships are designed to perform a wide variety of missions, notably air defense, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and other strike options. The majestic boats were introduced in 1991, when the lead ship of its class was introduced (the USS Arleigh Burke, DDG-51).
Powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, producing 100,000 shaft horsepower, these warships can travel at speeds exceeding 30 knots. They carry around 300 crewmembers, including officers and enlisted sailors.
The destroyers are equipped with a powerful and formidable array of weapons—notably the Aegis Combat System, a sophisticated radar and missile guidance system that allows the ship to track and engage multiple targets simultaneously.
As for the missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class comes equipped with a 96 cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-2, SM-3, SM-6 Standard missiles, and ASROC anti-submarine rockets. There are Harpoon anti-ship missiles in certain configurations as well.
One, five-inch Mark 45 gun for surface and limited air defense missions is onboard with two 20mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems) for missile and aircraft defense. Two triple-tube launchers for Mark 46 or Mark 50 torpedoes are present as well. This ship can carry up to two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue missions.
It has been speculated that the reason the Gravely is being deployed to assist in the Trump administration’s war against the Mexican drug cartels goes beyond simple signaling and deterrence.
Here’s Why Trump Wants the Gravely Involved
As The National Interest reported in January, there are real concerns among U.S. security experts that the Mexican cartels have acquired sophisticated U.S. arms from the international black market—particularly easily-transportable advanced systems such as the Javelin anti-tank missile. This is more than wild conjecture: Mexico’s major drug cartels are known to possess shoulder-fired rocket systems, and in 2010, the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel was caught trying to purchase sophisticated anti-aircraft systems on the black market.
And should any degree of the advanced systems mentioned in this article be used by the cartels against any potential U.S. forces, they would need significant military backup—the kind of protection that the USS Gravely could provide.
So, not only is the deployment of the USS Gravely to the new “Gulf of America” a clear indication of how serious the Trump administration is about its new war against the drug cartels. It is also a sign of how concerned Washington is about the level of militarization that the cartels have undergone in Mexico.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Greg Meland.
