U.S. Fifth Fleet Commander Concludes Israel Visit for Naval Coordination Talks

U.S. Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral Curt A. Renshaw concluded a visit to Israel on Friday, November 13, as a guest of Israeli Navy commander Vice Admiral Eyal Harel. The IDF said Renshaw met Harel and the Israeli Navy's senior command during the visit. The talks covered Israeli naval operations in different arenas, cooperation on regional stability and the security of maritime routes, coordination between the fleets, and the exchange of technological knowledge. The IDF described the visit as "Strengthening the maritime partnership between Israel and the United States." Renshaw assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces on October 5, 2025, succeeding Vice Admiral George Wikoff at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Before taking command, he was U.S. Central Command's director of operations. He had also served as deputy commander of Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet. The naval command's account of that change of command describes its operating region as approximately 2.5 million square miles, covering the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region comprises 21 countries and includes three major maritime chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.