There are no U.S. cargo ships there, which should make anyone wonder why the U.S. Navy is there in the first place.
For Empire!
Oh. You again.
Why would the U.S. even care? These aren’t American cargo ships.
“Because the world economy is supported by Pax Americana?
Because U.S. prosperity depends, in part on the world economy?
Because freedom of the seas is an integral part of the world economy?”
“Freedom of navigation is in our strategic national interests. It is part of the USN’s mission statement.
The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.”
Because we are not an isolationist country, even though you may want us to be
USN has been the de facto police force of the high seas and shipping lanes since the end of ww2.
Keeping Sea Lanes open has been a major cause for the US entering conflicts since 1800. Its kind of our thing.