The SEMAR and the USS Gravely: Between Secrecy and an Ambiguous Security Strategy

The docking of the USS Gravely marks the first time since the FTO designation that a U.S. military asset has deployed visibly and within a Mexican port.

By Ghaleb Krame

The arrival of the destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) at the port of Veracruz on April 25, 2025, and its stay until April 28, was officially presented by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) as a logistical stop for refueling and resupplying provisions. However, a rigorous technical analysis of the ship's capabilities and applicable operational procedures shows that this explanation does not hold up.

The USS Gravely, belonging to the Arleigh Burke class, has an operational range of approximately 4,400 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots. The distance between its base in Norfolk, Virginia, and the port of Veracruz is roughly 1,800 nautical miles—less than half of its operational range. Under these parameters, the ship could not only have completed its voyage without needing to refuel but would also have retained ample fuel reserves to continue operations in the Gulf of Mexico or return safely to port.

Standard refueling procedures at sea (Replenishment at Sea, RAS) require between 45 and 90 minutes, while the resupply of provisions via helicopters (VERTREP) takes between two and four hours. Even factoring in inspections, security protocols, and port maneuvers, the entire process could have been completed in less than six hours. Therefore, the USS Gravely’s stay of more than 72 hours in Veracruz cannot be adequately justified by logistical needs alone.

Even more significant is that, en route to the Gulf of Mexico, the USS Gravely could have resupplied at closer, traditional U.S. ports, such as Mayport in Florida, the Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba, or facilities in Puerto Rico. The choice of Veracruz, coupled with the extended stay, suggests an objective that goes beyond mere operational needs.

Another element that reinforces this interpretation is the USS Gravely’s decision to keep its Automatic Identification System (AIS) deactivated for much of its deployment in the Gulf. This practice, common among combat units in sensitive areas, aims to hinder precise geolocation, especially given the emerging risk posed by drones modified by criminal organizations. Although no immediate threat was detected, adopting protective protocols reflects an assessment of a non-negligible risk environment.

The USS Gravely is not an ordinary vessel. It is equipped with Tomahawk land-attack missiles, SM-2 and SM-6 anti-aircraft defense systems, anti-submarine weaponry, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and the Aegis Combat System, making it capable of operating in highly complex, multi-threat environments. Its mere presence off Mexican shores, in the current context, constitutes a major act of strategic deterrence with significant symbolic weight.

Since January 2025, the Trump 47 administration has designated the principal Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This reclassification redefines the operational parameters of U.S. forces and elevates Mexican criminal organizations to the same status as traditional terrorist threats. Under this new framework, the USS Gravely’s presence cannot be interpreted as a simple courtesy visit.

Although there is no public evidence confirming tactical or intelligence operations carried out from the vessel during its stay, it is reasonable to assume that, as has occurred in other bilateral missions, the opportunity was used to exchange information on illicit trafficking routes, maritime interdiction protocols, and mechanisms of interoperability between Mexican and U.S. forces.

The official narrative from SEMAR, which insists on an exclusively logistical explanation, should be understood as part of a diplomatic strategy aimed at preserving public perceptions of sovereignty, avoiding internal political tensions, and protecting potential operational agreements. Careful management of public statements is an intrinsic part of security relations in politically sensitive contexts.

Unlike aerial intelligence operations, which traditionally are limited to surveillance flights over international airspace, the docking of the USS Gravely marks the first time since the FTO designation that a U.S. military asset has deployed visibly and within a Mexican port. This action, even if formally framed within bilateral cooperation, introduces a new dynamic into regional relations.

Today, sovereignty is measured not only in terms of territorial control but also in a state’s ability to define its security strategies without external pressures. The USS Gravely’s presence in Veracruz, though discreetly managed, signals a process of strategic convergence in the region, raising questions about the limits of national autonomy in security matters.

Without succumbing to alarmism, the episode invites necessary reflection: international cooperation is indispensable in the face of global threats, but it must be managed with transparency, proportionality, and full awareness of its political implications. Otherwise, it risks, through faits accomplis, undermining principles that have so far been pillars of Mexican foreign policy.

The USS Gravely’s stop in Veracruz was not an isolated incident. It was, quietly, the announcement of a new phase in bilateral relations, where shared security gradually reconfigures historical balances.

*The author is Managing Partner at Krame y Raether and an academic.