Two United States Navy ships collided during a routine refueling operation in waters near South America, according to confirmation from the US military’s Southern Command to the BBC. The incident occurred on Wednesday during a replenishment-at-sea procedure involving the guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply.
While two personnel sustained minor injuries during the collision, both individuals were reported to be in stable condition following the incident. Despite the impact, both vessels maintained operational capability and continued sailing safely from the location of the accident.
The exact circumstances surrounding the collision remain unclear as military officials have launched a formal investigation into the matter. Southern Command representatives declined to specify what factors might have contributed to the accident, noting only that the investigation remains ongoing.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the USNS Supply had been operating in the Caribbean region, which falls within Southern Command’s area of responsibility along with portions of the South Atlantic and South Pacific.
This naval incident occurs amid heightened US military presence in the Caribbean region. President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial military buildup in recent months as part of the administration’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking networks. The strategy has produced controversial results, including a recent lethal strike on an alleged drug vessel in the eastern Pacific that resulted in two fatalities on Thursday. This brings the total to at least 38 deadly engagements with suspected drug trafficking vessels since the administration renewed its offensive operations.
Additionally, the US military presence in the region has facilitated the enforcement of sanctions against Venezuelan oil exports, following the dramatic arrest of President Nicolas Maduro during a nighttime raid in January.