USS John Basilone destroyer to arrive at Rota Naval Base

The USS John Basilone (DDG-122), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is scheduled to arrive at the Rota Naval Base in Spain this Thursday. This deployment marks the arrival of the sixth destroyer at the base, completing an expansion agreement reached between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and U.S. President Joe Biden during the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid.

The arrival of the USS John Basilone, which is transferring from Mayport, Florida, will bring more than 300 crew members and their families to the joint Spanish-U.S. base. This brings the total U.S. presence at Rota to over 6,000 personnel. The vessel is equipped with the Aegis combat system and AN/SPY-6 active radar, providing advanced detection capabilities.

This sixth vessel completes the NATO missile shield reinforcement at the base, following the arrival of the USS Oscar Austin in October 2024. These additional destroyers complement the four ships already stationed at Rota since 2014-2015, enhancing operational flexibility across European and African waters, from the Arctic Circle to the Cape of Good Hope.