HMS Anson and USS Alaska's recent presence in Gibraltar highlights NATO's military posture amid rising tensions in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.
The British Royal Navy's Astute-class nuclear attack submarine HMS Anson (S124) and the U.S. Navy's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, believed to be USS Alaska (SSBN-732), have recently drawn attention by appearing consecutively in Gibraltar. The sighting of these two strategic platforms in quick succession has sparked new discussions regarding NATO's military activity in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.
HMS Anson, which departed from the Faslane base in Scotland on January 10, was deployed for a long-term mission at HMAS Stirling base in Western Australia. The submarine reached Australia on February 23, where it participated in planned maintenance and logistics activities. During this process, efforts were made to prepare the Australian naval infrastructure to host future Astute-class submarines and submarines under the AUKUS framework.
Nuclear traffic in Gibraltar
The British submarine had also made headlines for loading Tomahawk cruise missiles in Gibraltar while en route to Australia. Most recently, HMS Anson was spotted again in Gibraltar on May 14, and it is believed that due to tensions in the Middle East, it has prematurely concluded its planned activities in Southeast Asia and taken on a passive role in the Arabian Sea.
The UK Ministry of Defence has continued its usual practice of not commenting on the submarine's mission route or activities. However, experts suggest that HMS Anson may have been drawn back to European waters due to increasing Russian submarine activities in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. It is also indicated that the submarine could accompany the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier strike group, which is expected to be deployed to the Arctic soon.
On the other hand, the second notable activity in Gibraltar was the brief visit of the U.S. Navy's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska. The submarine is believed to have subsequently proceeded towards the Mediterranean. The visibility of a 'boomer' submarine engaged in strategic nuclear deterrence missions to this extent has been interpreted as an unusual development in military circles.
It is suggested that USS Alaska's activities in the region were supported by the U.S. Navy's E-6A Mercury nuclear communication aircraft, which is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. This situation is noted to potentially be connected to the rising tensions in the Middle East and possible new crisis scenarios.
Analysts also evaluate that USS Alaska's appearance in Gibraltar may be related to the Spanish government's recent imposition of certain restrictions on U.S. military assets, and Washington's efforts to convey a message of alternative bases and freedom of movement.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
