U.S. Navy revives 2nd Fleet to counter Russia

The Navy will re-establish its Second Fleet in the northern Atlantic Ocean to counter Russian power, the Pentagon announced Friday.

"Our 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," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. "That's why, today, we're standing up Second Fleet to address these changes, particularly in the north Atlantic." The U.S. will also lead a new NATO Joint Force Command for the Atlantic, which will be hosted in Norfolk, Virginia.

The fleet was disbanded in 2011 for strategic and fiscal reasons. Russia has increased its naval activity in the Atlantic and nearby waters as well.

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