Two U.S. Navy vessels collided during a complex replenishment-at-sea operation in the Caribbean on Wednesday, February 12, 2026, leaving two personnel with minor injuries and raising fresh questions about the risks of an expanded American military presence in the region. According to statements from U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) officials quoted by multiple outlets, the incident involved the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG103) and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6). Both ships were able to continue sailing safely after the collision, and the injured personnel are reportedly in stable condition.
The collision occurred during a maneuver known as a replenishment-at-sea, a high-stakes operation where two ships transfer fuel and supplies while moving side by side. As Southcom spokesperson Colonel Emmanuel Ortiz explained in a statement cited by Fox News and other outlets, "The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply collided during a replenishment-at-sea. Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition. Both ships have reported sailing safely. The incident is currently under investigation."
While the exact location of the crash remains unclear, officials confirmed to the BBC and The Wall Street Journal that the incident took place near South America, within the vast area overseen by U.S. Southern Command. This territory stretches from Central and South America to the Caribbean, and even includes parts of the South Atlantic and South Pacific. The USNS Supply, in particular, had been operating in the Caribbean, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Complicating matters, a U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg was positioned on the other side of the USNS Supply at the time of the collision, suggesting that the replenishment operation involved multiple vessels in close proximity. The Navy has not yet released further details about the sequence of events, but has confirmed that both ships were able to continue their missions after the incident.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, and officials have not disclosed any preliminary findings. However, the mishap comes at a time of heightened operational tempo for the U.S. Navy in the region. Since August 2025, the Navy has ramped up its presence in and around the Caribbean, deploying about a dozen warships—including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier—to combat drug trafficking and enforce sanctions on Venezuela. President Donald Trump ordered this buildup in recent months, with the stated aim of targeting narcotics smuggling and supporting broader regional security objectives.
According to Fox News, both the USS Truxtun and the USNS Supply were assigned to this military buildup. The Truxtun had only recently arrived in the Fourth Fleet area, having deployed from its home port at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia earlier in February 2026. The USNS Supply, while owned by the Navy, is typically operated by civilian mariners, a detail noted by Fox News that underscores the complex, often multi-agency nature of such operations.
Replenishment-at-sea missions are notoriously challenging. They require precise coordination as ships maneuver side by side, sometimes for hours at a time. According to The Wall Street Journal, these operations can take days to prepare and are critical for sustaining extended naval deployments far from home ports. Any miscalculation or miscommunication can have serious consequences, as this week’s incident demonstrates.
While this is the first reported collision of its kind in the Caribbean during the current buildup, the Navy has a history of such mishaps. In 2017, for example, 17 sailors died in separate collisions involving Navy ships in the Pacific, tragedies later attributed to "multiple failures" by officers and sailors onboard, as reported by Nexstar Media. More recently, the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group experienced a series of incidents—including a friendly fire event and the loss of two F-18s—during its deployment from September 2024 through May 2025. High-stress operational environments, such as those created by rapid buildups or extended missions, have been cited as contributing factors in these cases.
The current U.S. military presence in the Caribbean is not solely aimed at counter-narcotics. As BBC and Fox News noted, the U.S. has also used its naval power to enforce sanctions against Venezuelan oil. In a dramatic development in January, U.S. forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a night raid, part of a broader campaign to pressure the Venezuelan government. The partial quarantine on sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela, announced by President Trump in December, remains in effect, further increasing the operational demands on the Navy in the region.
The risks of such a sustained and multifaceted military operation are not limited to collisions. On Thursday, just a day after the ship-to-ship incident, two people died following a U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, according to BBC. This brings the total to at least 38 lethal strikes on suspected drug boats since President Trump returned to office, highlighting the intensity and potential volatility of current U.S. operations in the hemisphere.
Despite the minor nature of the injuries sustained in Wednesday’s collision, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in naval operations, especially during periods of heightened military activity. As Southcom’s Steven McLoud put it in a statement to Nexstar Media, "Both ships have reported sailing safely and the collision is currently under investigation." The Navy has not indicated whether any disciplinary actions or changes in procedures will result from the incident.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of personnel and maintaining operational readiness in a region that has become a focal point for U.S. strategic interests. With complex missions continuing and the investigation ongoing, the Navy’s ability to navigate both literal and figurative rough waters will be tested in the weeks and months ahead.
As the story continues to unfold, the incident between the USS Truxtun and the USNS Supply will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of Navy protocols and the broader implications of America’s expanding role in the Caribbean and beyond.