Updated May 5, 2018 - World

Navy reinstating Second Fleet in response to Russia

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson announced the re-establishment of the Navy's Second Fleet in order to better counter Russia in the Atlantic as the country becomes more assertive amid deteriorating relations with the West, the BBC reports.

The details: The fleet was disbanded in 2011 for "cost-saving and structural reasons," per the BBC. Adm. Richardson said the new National Defense Strategy "makes clear that we're back in an era of great power competition as the security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex."

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