The cold winds blowing between the United States and South Africa temporally thawed a little this past weekend when the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) USS Lewis B Puller docked in Cape Town late on the evening of Friday 4 April for a scheduled port visit.
This short, two-day working port visit provided Puller’s crew with an opportunity to restock fuel and replenish fresh fruit, vegetables, and other consumables.
Commissioned in August 2017 during a ceremony at Khalifa bin Salman Port in Al Hidd, Bahrain, the Lewis B Puller holds the distinction of being the first purpose-built expeditionary mobile base vessel (previously classified as a mobile landing platform, and then as an afloat forward staging base) for the United States Navy.
Lewis B Puller is the first US Navy ship to be commissioned outside of the United States. Her design allows her to support special forces missions, counter-piracy and smuggling operations, maritime security operations, and mine clearance, as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.
According to the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, the Puller’s transit is a continuation of its forward deployment in support of maritime security. The ship has a blended crew consisting of civilian mariners and US Navy sailors and is capable of executing additional missions, including counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. It also works with a variety of rotary-wing aircraft.
“Important port cities like Cape Town are critical to maritime security,” the ship’s Commanding Officer Captain Raul Acevedo said. “‘Stops like this showcase our dedication to our South African counterparts as we work on issues of mutual interest within the region.”
“The US shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the waters surrounding the continent,” Consul General Allison Areias said. “Both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are critical for African and global prosperity.”
Despite the visit, no engagements with African countries are planned as the Puller returns from deployment and the Cape Town visit was kept low-key.
Relations between the United States and South Africa are currently strained, marked by significant diplomatic and economic tensions. These include the US’s expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, following his criticism of President Donald Trump, and the suspension of all foreign aid to South Africa. Washington has also suspended military assistance and cooperation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The US government suspended all State Department-funded military assistance to South Africa following Executive Order 14204, signed by Trump on 7 February 2025. This includes assistance provided through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education & Training (IMET) programmes.
Furthermore, South African military personnel currently enrolled at US military training and higher education facilities and institutes as part of IMET are required to return home as soon as possible and will not complete their training in the US.
Puller’s sister vessel, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, has visited Cape Town on several occasions in the past, supporting security cooperation missions and operations in and around the African continent.
The USS Lewis B Puller departed Cape Town on the late afternoon of Sunday, 6 April.
