Latest news with #NimitzCarrierStrikeGroup
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Aircraft Carrier Holds ‘Warfighting' Drills on China's Doorstep
A United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was conducting operations in the contested South China Sea, the Navy said, to showcase its ability to maintain warfighting advantages. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. A naval strike group led by USS Nimitz-the oldest U.S. aircraft carrier in active service-has been operating in the South China Sea, where sovereignty claims by several countries overlap, since late May as part of its regularly scheduled deployment to the western Pacific. Meanwhile, China has deployed both of its two operational aircraft carriers to waters beyond the First Island Chain-an island defense line formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines as part of a U.S. maritime containment strategy intended to restrict China's naval activities. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted "maritime security operations"-including flight operations, maritime strike exercises, and tactical training between surface and air units-in the South China Sea on Wednesday, according to the aircraft carrier's public affairs officer. "Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific," the press release stated. U.S. warships frequently operate in the South China Sea to maintain freedom of navigation, challenging excessive maritime claims by regional countries. Rear Admiral Fred Goldhammer, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said the deployment aims to build proficiency and conduct flight operations supporting the "full spectrum of operations," adding that the unit operates "wherever international law allows." The Nimitz's deployment in the South China Sea follows a warning from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about China's threats in the Indo-Pacific region. He said the East Asian power seeks nothing less than hegemony and is increasingly willing to resort to force. In response to Hegseth's remarks on the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of being the "primary factor" undermining peace and stability, while claiming that there has never been any problem with freedom of navigation and overflight. Rear Admiral Fred Goldhammer, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said in a press release on Wednesday: "We are doing more than ever to strengthen peace, stability, and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific." The public affairs officer of USS Nimitz said in a press release on Wednesday: "The operations include both day and night flight evolutions. These activities support maritime security, enhance interoperability with regional partners, and maintain the U.S. Navy's ability to project power across the theater." An unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 1: "China has always been committed to working with countries concerned to properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, while safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations." It remains to be seen whether the Nimitz will head toward the broader western Pacific after concluding its operations in the South China Sea to counter the two Chinese aircraft carriers. Related Articles Iran Threatens to Attack U.S. Forces if Israel Strikes Nuclear SitesMarco Rubio Says US 'Committed' to Russian PeopleMap Shows States Invaded by Ants That Can Cause Life-Threatening ReactionTrump Puts Iran Nuclear Deal in Doubt, Raising Risk of War 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
US Aircraft Carrier Holds 'Warfighting' Drills on China's Doorstep
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was conducting operations in the contested South China Sea, the Navy said, to showcase its ability to maintain warfighting advantages. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters A naval strike group led by USS Nimitz—the oldest U.S. aircraft carrier in active service—has been operating in the South China Sea, where sovereignty claims by several countries overlap, since late May as part of its regularly scheduled deployment to the western Pacific. Meanwhile, China has deployed both of its two operational aircraft carriers to waters beyond the First Island Chain—an island defense line formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines as part of a U.S. maritime containment strategy intended to restrict China's naval activities. What To Know The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted "maritime security operations"—including flight operations, maritime strike exercises, and tactical training between surface and air units—in the South China Sea on Wednesday, according to the aircraft carrier's public affairs officer. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 5, 2025. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 5, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Franklyn Guage/U.S. Navy "Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific," the press release stated. U.S. warships frequently operate in the South China Sea to maintain freedom of navigation, challenging excessive maritime claims by regional countries. Rear Admiral Fred Goldhammer, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said the deployment aims to build proficiency and conduct flight operations supporting the "full spectrum of operations," adding that the unit operates "wherever international law allows." The Nimitz's deployment in the South China Sea follows a warning from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about China's threats in the Indo-Pacific region. He said the East Asian power seeks nothing less than hegemony and is increasingly willing to resort to force. In response to Hegseth's remarks on the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of being the "primary factor" undermining peace and stability, while claiming that there has never been any problem with freedom of navigation and overflight. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 6, 2025. A United States Navy F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 6, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew C. Wolf/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying Rear Admiral Fred Goldhammer, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said in a press release on Wednesday: "We are doing more than ever to strengthen peace, stability, and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific." The public affairs officer of USS Nimitz said in a press release on Wednesday: "The operations include both day and night flight evolutions. These activities support maritime security, enhance interoperability with regional partners, and maintain the U.S. Navy's ability to project power across the theater." An unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 1: "China has always been committed to working with countries concerned to properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, while safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Nimitz will head toward the broader western Pacific after concluding its operations in the South China Sea to counter the two Chinese aircraft carriers.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
USS Nimitz waves goodbye to San Diego for likely final deployment
The U.S. Navy's eldest aircraft carrier set sail out of San Diego on Wednesday for what is sure to be its final trip. The Nimitz, which was first commissioned in 1975 and given a service lifespan of 50 years, left Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego — once its homeport for 11 years — for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, according to a Navy social media post. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrived in California after leaving Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, on March 21. 'Seeing our Sailors man the rails today — with reflections from our very first deployment in 1976 — reminds us how far we've come, and how strong our legacy remains,' the post read. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group includes the aircraft carrier Nimitz, as well as the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 17 and the four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers of Destroy Squadron 9. The Nimitz most recently completed a six-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific in June 2023, where it visited Japan and India, took part in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's Large Scale Global Exercise and provided disaster relief to Guam after Typhoon Mawar. During its newest deployment, the strike group 'will focus on protecting security, freedom, and prosperity for the United States, our allies and partners, and demonstrating the U.S. Navy's unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,' according to a Navy release. One of the largest ships in the world, the Nimitz was first deployed on July 7, 1976, to the Mediterranean, according to a Navy website on the Nimitz. Aircraft carrier Nimitz returns to sea after maintenance stint Two years later, the carrier was sent to the Indian Ocean after Iran took 52 U.S. hostages following an attack on the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Eventually, the carrier assisted with Operation Evening Light in an attempt to rescue those hostages, though the mission was called off after the U.S. wasn't able to secure enough helicopters to pull off the rescue. All 52 hostages were eventually released and returned to the U.S. The carrier provided support for Operation Desert Storm in the Arabian Gulf in 1991 and Operation Southern Watch in 1993 and 1997. Nimitz spent 12 years at Naval Station Norfolk until 1987, when it relocated to what is now Naval Base Kitsap, Washington. Then, in 2001, the Nimitz found its newest home at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, where it set off from in 2005 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. In 2012, the Nimitz relocated again to another homeport in Everett, Washington, and deployed in 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Nimitz also etched its name in the annals of Navy lore when it fielded the Navy F-35 Lightning's first carrier landing at sea. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nimitz embarked on a historically long 341-day deployment — the longest since the Vietnam War — and returned home in March 2021. 'Nimitz, in its 50th year of service, continues and celebrates its legacy of strengthening alliances and partnerships, demonstrating the power of teamwork and cooperation in maintaining peace and security,' the Navy release said. The Nimitz will eventually return to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in 2026, before it is set to be decommissioned.
