The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) collided while refueling at sea in the Caribbean on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by U.S. Southern Command.

Two crew members had minor injuries but are in stable condition. Both ships were able to continue their operations after the incident, which is currently under investigation.

The collision happened shortly after Truxtun left Naval Station Norfolk on February 3 for a scheduled deployment. The destroyer has about 300 sailors on board, including 26 air wing personnel from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, also known as the “Valkyries.”

Before the deployment, Commander James Koffi of Truxtun noted the ship's recent experience in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas, emphasizing that this mission is part of continuing their “proven operational readiness.”

USNS Supply was seen leaving Ponce, Puerto Rico on February 11, the same day as the collision, after arriving two days earlier. Earlier, the ship had conducted a replenishment-at-sea operation with the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg on January 29, during Southern Command operations focused on combatting drug trafficking and enhancing regional security.

This incident occurs while the Trump administration has sent around 12-15 warships to the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier group, the largest U.S. military presence in the region since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Although the official aim is to fight drug trafficking, many view this deployment as pressure on the Venezuelan government, especially after the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro.