The US Navy destroyer USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81) docked in Port Sudan on 1 March, where it joined the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (494), giving the impression of a new struggle for influence in the country. The US Navy's 6th Fleet noted that Churchill's visit followed soon after the Spearhead-class fast transport ship USNS Carson City called at Port Sudan on 24-26 February and that US Africa Command's deputy commander for civilian engagement and director of intelligence visited Sudan in January. "Together with Sudan's civilian-led transitional government, we are striving to build a partnership between our two armed forces," the 6th Fleet quoted Rear Admiral Michael Baze, its director of maritime headquarters, as saying. "In just the past few months we have already seen an increase in military-to-military engagements."
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