Three US aircraft carriers to hold joint training in western Pacific for first time in 10 years

The US aircraft carriers Kitty Hawk, Nimitz, and John Stennis conduct a joint training in the Pacific Ocean on August 14, 2007.

Show of force coincides with US President Trump’s visit to Asia

This weekend, three American aircraft carriers will be carrying out joint exercises in the waters around the Korean Peninsula.

“The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) strike groups will commence a three-carrier strike force exercise in the western Pacific, Nov. 11-14,” the US 7th Fleet announced on Nov. 8. This is the first time that three American aircraft carriers have conducted joint maneuvers in the western Pacific since 2007.

The US 7th Fleet did not mention where in the western Pacific the three aircraft carriers would be conducting their exercises. But a source in the South Korean Navy said that the exercises will supposedly take place in the East Sea near the Korean Peninsula. “South Korea and the US are currently discussing whether or not the South Korean Navy will take part in the exercises as well,” the source said.

The US aircraft carrier Nimitz

The US Navy’s announcement came just one day after US President Donald Trump revealed during his address to South Korea’s National Assembly that “currently stationed in the vicinity of this peninsula are the three largest aircraft carriers in the world loaded to the maximum with magnificent F-35 and F-18 fighter jets.” The exercises appear to be a large-scale show of force aimed at North Korea and scheduled to coincide with Trump’s trip to Asia.

"It is a rare opportunity to train with two aircraft carriers together, and even rarer to be able to train with three," US Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott Swift was quoted as saying. "Multiple carrier strike force operations are very complex, and this exercise in the western Pacific is a strong testament to the US Pacific Fleet's unique ability and ironclad commitment to the continued security and stability of the region."

The nuclear powered Nimitz class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) docked in Busan on Oct. 21 (Hankyoreh Archive)

“While at sea, the strike force plans to conduct air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, close-in coordinated maneuvers, and other training,” the 7th Fleet said.

From the end of May to the beginning of June, the US Navy sent two aircraft carriers – the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Carl Vinson – to the waters around the Korean Peninsula to conduct joint exercises. The 7th Fleet said that the previous joint exercises involving three carrier strike groups had taken place off the coast of Guam in 2006 and 2007.

　

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer

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