Staff writer

YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. -- The U.S. 7th Fleet will remain both a key instrument of American foreign policy and an integral part of the defense cooperation framework with Japan, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley said Tuesday on the fleet's flagship USS Blue Ridge.

Foley made the remarks as guest speaker at a change-of-command ceremony for the navy's largest forward-deployed fleet. In that ceremony, Vice Adm. Walter Doran assumed command from Vice Adm. Robert Natter, who has been at the helm since September 1996.