USS TRIPOLI DEPLOYMENT SIGNALS RISING US PRESENCE IN REGION

A US Navy Warship, which is believed to be carrying Marines and Sailors to West Asia amid the developments in the region, is nearing the Malacca Strait off Singapore, CNN reported, referring to maritime tracking data.

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As per the US broadcaster, amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli was seen approaching Singapore, at the southwestern edge of the South China Sea on Tuesday morning, as per AIS tracking data seen by CNN.

Citing marinetraffic.com, CNN said that it showed a track for an “unspecified US warship” departing Okinawa on March U1, through the South China Sea and nearing Singapore Tuesday morning ata speed of about 22. mph.

It reported that while US Navy ships often move with AIS transponders turned off, revealing their positions while transiting areas with heavy maritime traffic, like the waters around Singapore, enables safer operations.