The U.S. Navy has deployed a fourth guided-missile destroyer, the USS Stockdale (DDG 106), into the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, with its arrival in Panama confirmed yesterday. This deployment brings the total number of U.S. Navy warships on station in the region to at least 10. The USS Stockdale's arrival marks a significant increase in naval presence in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility. Approximately 13% of the U.S. Navy's currently deployed ships are now operating in this strategic region. This naval buildup follows a joint operation between the Dominican Republic and the United States earlier yesterday, September 21st, 2025, where 377 packages of alleged cocaine were seized from a destroyed drug boat approximately 80 nautical miles south of Beata Island. U.S. forces had attacked the vessel between 3:07 PM and 4:08 PM UTC on that date.
