“A few years ago, a port call in the Middle East might mean bottomless-mojito brunches in Bahrain, hitting the indoor ski slopes in a Dubai megamall, or a desert safari in Qatar. But since Operation Epic Fury began eight months ago, U.S. warships in the theater have basically had just one option: Diego Garcia, some 2,500 miles away.
“It’s not great for morale, but the consequences go beyond disgruntled sailors. The remote coral atoll lacks the pierside infrastructure that many ports can offer. As the Navy stretches its fleet with longer deployments and fewer port calls, warships are losing the ability to do crucial mid-cruise maintenance.”
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/10/port-call-situation-wearing-out-navy-warships/416859/
@jalefkowit As a Navy veteran I am deeply saddened by the situation sailors are in right now. I couldn’t imagine having to deal with such a horrible experience and the hard decisions they have to make.