U.S. Navy destroyer with guided missiles returns from Red Sea mission to protect U.S. southern border

A United States Navy destroyer that spent months in the Red Sea countering Houthi missile and drone attacks has returned home... only to be reassigned to an entirely different kind of mission: patrolling the southern U.S. border.

Why is the USS Spruance being used in the Gulf of Mexico?

The Pentagon has directed the USS Spruance to assist in maritime security efforts near the U.S.-Mexico border. Officials say the destroyer will play a key role in disrupting smuggling routes used for trafficking drugs, weapons, and people. The mission is part of a broader effort to enhance territorial security and prevent illicit activities from reaching U.S. shores.

Here’s the Spruance in action.

This deployment follows the arrival of another guided-missile destroyer, the USS Gravely, in the Gulf of Mexico. Both warships are working alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, which specializes in law enforcement operations at sea. The Spruance will carry a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, a team trained in counter-smuggling, counter-terrorism, and maritime interdiction.

NORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot described the deployment as an expansion of the military’s role in securing U.S. borders.

What was the USS Spruance doing in the Red Sea?

Before its reassignment, the USS Spruance spent months in the Red Sea, where it was engaged in defending international shipping lanes. The destroyer was part of a U.S. Navy task force countering Houthi rebel attacks on commercial and military vessels. These attacks, which involved drones and missiles, were a growing concern for global trade and security.

You may have heard about a certain recent gaff in Donald Trump’s senior defense team over these operations.

During its deployment, the Spruance played a key role in intercepting and neutralizing threats, working alongside other U.S. warships in the region. The Navy has frequently rotated forces through the Red Sea to deter further Houthi aggression. Most recently, U.S. forces launched airstrikes against the rebels in response to continued hostilities.

Now, the Spruance finds itself in a very different kind of conflict.

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