Coast Guard reassigns Bahrain-based fast response cutters to Western Pacific

Six U.S. Coast Guard cutters formerly homeported in Bahrain will now patrol Western Pacific waters as an expeditionary squadron, extending the service’s military operations in the region.

The move recasts Patrol Forces Southwest Asia — a force that spent more than two decades supporting U.S. Central Command from Bahrain — into the Expeditionary Cutter Squadron, the service said Wednesday in a news release.

The squadron is currently operating in the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations, according to the release.

“Coast Guard forces have always adapted to meet urgent national needs,” Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said in the release. “The Expeditionary Cutter Squadron enhances the Coast Guard’s ability to deploy our forces in support of Combatant Commanders and national security objectives.”

Cutters in the squadron are mooring in the Philippines and Singapore for port visits and maintenance and are conducting defense operations, including “maritime security operations and cooperative maritime activities,” according to a Coast Guard statement emailed Saturday by spokesman Cmdr. Steve Roth.

The squadron is composed of six Sentinel-class fast response cutters, all previously assigned to the Bahrain command: the Charles Moulthrope, Robert Goldman, Glen Harris, Emlen Tunnell, John Scheuerman and Clarence Sutphin Jr.

Bahrain, which is home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 5^th Fleet, has been repeatedly targeted by Iran over the course of Operation Epic Fury. As of Monday, local authorities were issuing warnings about incoming missiles and drones and telling residents to take shelter. 

The statement did not address whether the patrol force was formally reorganized. Roth referred all questions to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain, which did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Monday.

The shift comes as Washington expands its security presence in the Pacific amid China’s increasingly aggressive naval activities. Beijing has used coast guard and maritime militia vessels to press its expansive claims in the South China Sea, particularly against the Philippines.

The Coast Guard statement did not say whether countering Chinese activity is included in the squadron’s mission.

“The transition of the Expeditionary Cutter Squadron reflects the Coast Guard’s intent to provide agile, capable, and responsive maritime forces,” the service said. “These forces will rapidly support national security objectives across a range of operational theaters while leveraging the Service’s unique authorities.”

The squadron is authorized to support Pacific Command through Sept. 30, but the Coast Guard statement did not explain what will happen after the authorization expires.

The cutters are already operating in the region. The Charles Moulthrope and the Emlen Tunnell joined Philippine coast guard and navy vessels in the South China Sea for drills on June 27 to 30, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a June 29 news release.

The cutters last week joined the 32nd Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, or CARAT, in Thailand.