A United States warship, based in the Western Pacific, recently provided critical defense for America’s strategic military outpost at Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean.

The destroyer USS Ralph Johnson is assigned to the Seventh Fleet’s Destroyer Squadron 15, a U.S. Navy surface force forward deployed in Japan.

“We won’t speak to the details of specific missions for operations security purposes,” the Seventh Fleet told Newsweek when asked for comment.

Why It Matters

Diego Garcia—a tiny British Indian Ocean Territory island that hosts a U.S. military base—received far more attention than usual earlier this year following tensions between the U.S. and Iran, during which the Pentagon deployed as many as six B-2 stealth bombers there.

As part of the broader U.S. reinforcement of its force posture in the Middle East, the Ralph Johnson and its sister ship, USS Milius—also assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15—operated in the Indian Ocean and made port calls at Diego Garcia, Newsweek previously reported.

The Seventh Fleet—which manages U.S. naval operations across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans—told Newsweek that both Japan-homeported warships are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as ballistic missile defense.

What To Know

The Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, completed a seven-month deployment and returned to its home port at the Yokosuka naval base—located near Tokyo, Japan—on July 31, Destroyer Squadron 15 announced in a set of photos released the following day.

The warship conducted patrols in the Seventh Fleet’s area of responsibility and “critical defense of U.S. strategic locations in the Indian Ocean” during its deployment, according to a photo caption that did not specifically mention Diego Garcia.

The Ralph Johnson was seen departing the island on July 13, following “a scheduled port visit.” The military base “enables our forward deployed forces to conduct operations in support of regional stability and provide a rapid response to crises,” the Seventh Fleet said.

The Milius—which made its last stopover at Diego Garcia on July 21—was spotted anchoring off Yokosuka on Monday but appeared to set sail again without entering its home port for unknown reasons, according to photos shared by a local ship spotter.

A third warship from Destroyer Squadron 15, USS John Finn, also made a port visit to Diego Garcia on July 16 and arrived at Sembawang naval base in Singapore on Monday. According to its official Facebook page, the warship commenced patrols as of July 31.

The Seventh Fleet told Newsweek that it operates daily to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity of the U.S., its allies, and partners, ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

What People Are Saying

The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: “The Indo-Pacific region stretches from the U.S. Pacific Coastline to the Indian Ocean. As forward deployed naval forces, the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates forward to strengthen peace, stability and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific, and we will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”

U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia said on its website: “Diego Garcia consists of United States Navy and Air Force personnel assigned here to carry out the Island’s mission: To maintain and operate facilities and provide services and materials in support of afloat units, operating forces on forward deployment, and tenant shore activities.”

What Happens Next

Whether the Pentagon will maintain a strong military presence on Diego Garcia remains uncertain, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have eased following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar in June.