THE United States Navy has announced the deployment of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the Philippine Sea, following the confirmation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of the presence of a Chinese aircraft carrier in the same area.
The strike group, led by the flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68), is currently patrolling the Philippine Sea after its scheduled port visit in Guam.
According to the US Navy, this move demonstrates “the ship’s operational readiness and the U.S. Navy’s commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
“Operating forward as a strike group hones our ability to maintain persistent and capable forces at sea, always ready to provide our leaders with a broad spectrum of military capabilities to respond to any crisis or contingency,” said Rear Admiral Maximilian Clark, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11 in a statement.
The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, composed of USS Gridley (DDG-101), USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108). The ships are currently operating within the area of operations of the U.S. 7th Fleet, the largest forward-deployed fleet of the US Navy.
On Thursday, the AFP confirmed the presence of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong near the country as it transited to the Philippine Sea with its escorts.
