SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) – Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, and Rear Admiral Cooper, commander, U.S Naval Forces Korea, met with senior U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) military leaders to discuss the maritime security environment and reaffirm the strength of the relationship between U.S. Seventh Fleet and the ROK Navy.
His visit, the first to the Korean peninsula since taking command on Aug. 23, included a meeting with Vice Adm. Jung, Jin-Sup, commander, ROK Fleet, and Cooper, commander, U.S. to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between U.S. Seventh Fleet and the ROK Navy.
“The partnership between our two navies is strong, and this MOU helps formalize the processes we use to coordinate our forces,” said Sawyer, “Enhancing our ability to integrate our fleets makes the alliance stronger in training and contingency operations.”
U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the U.S. Navy's forward deployed fleets. At any given time there are roughly 50-70 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 Sailors in the region. Seventh Fleet's area of operation spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the Antarctic in the South.
Cooper adds his own confirmation to Sawyer’s regarding the strong relationship between the U.S.-ROK naval components.
“We have a strong relationship with our ROK Navy partners and through a continued effort to improve communication and coordination it grows stronger each day,” said Cooper, “Our U.S. Navy Sailors and civilians living and serving in Korea are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our ROK Navy partners.”
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander for the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.
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