US aircraft carrier strike group enters the East Sea

On July 7, the US Navy's George Washington aircraft carrier strike group ended its port visit in Manila, the Philippines, and entered the East Sea.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) transits the Philippine Sea on June 15. (Source: US Navy)

According to USNI News , the news site of the US Naval Institute, a US Navy statement said that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), along with its air wing (CVW 5), left Manila on July 7. Accompanying the aircraft carrier were the cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) and the destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86).

The George Washington departed its anchorage after a four-day port visit. Rear Admiral Eric J. Anduze, Commander of Task Force 70 (CTF-70) and Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 (CSG-5), met with Vice Admiral Jose M. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta, Commander of the Philippine Navy.

This is the George Washington's first patrol since returning to Japan last November to assume duty as the permanent aircraft carrier of the US Navy's Forward Operating Force (FDNF-J) based in Yokosuka. The visit to Manila is also the first port call of this summer's patrol, which began on June 10.

Such visits are “important opportunities to enhance engagement with allies and partners,” said Captain Tim Waits, captain of the George Washington, but most importantly, the friendships formed here “help strengthen the bonds between our two nations and demonstrate our shared commitment to peace and stability in the region.”

As of now, George Washington is the only US aircraft carrier deployed in the Indo -Pacific after the Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group was transferred to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group, currently operating in the Middle East, is expected to return to the US on a journey across the Indo- Pacific region, after surpassing the 7-month deployment mark from November 2024.

The US Navy has not yet announced whether the George Washington strike group will participate in the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre, co-hosted by the US and Australia. The exercise is scheduled to take place from July 13 to August 4 in Australia.

Ships confirmed to participate in the exercise are the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), consisting of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD-22), the landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47), and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU).

As of July 7, the America ARG was operating in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia, while some units of the 31st MEU were onshore for pre-exercise training.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhom-tac-chien-tau-san-bay-my-vao-bien-dong-320319.html