The USS Ronald Reagan, a key component of U.S. defense ties in the Indo-Pacific, departed its Japanese home port of Yokosuka on Thursday after nearly a decade of deployment. It will be replaced by the USS George Washington, another Nimitz-class carrier, later this year.
The departure of the USS Ronald Reagan from Yokosuka Naval Base marks the end of an era for the U.S. Navy in the Indo-Pacific region. The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has served as a key component of the U.S. effort to bolster defense ties with Japan and other partners in the region.
The Ronald Reagan first arrived in Yokosuka in 2015 and has since participated in dozens of multilateral exercises and visited more than a dozen foreign ports. It has also played a key role in supporting humanitarian operations in the region, including Operation Tomodachi following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in northeastern Japan.
The Ronald Reagan's departure comes at a time of growing tension in the Indo-Pacific region, with China becoming increasingly assertive in its maritime claims. Japan, in particular, is concerned about China's claims to uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
The Ronald Reagan will be replaced by the USS George Washington, another Nimitz-class carrier, later this year. The George Washington is currently undergoing a major overhaul at Newport News Shipyard in Virginia.
The Ronald Reagan's departure from Yokosuka was marked by a ceremony attended by family members and friends of the crew. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel spoke at the ceremony and praised the Ronald Reagan and its crew for their service.
"The USS Ronald Reagan and her crew have ensured that millions of people across the Indo-Pacific have been able to live their lives free of coercion, aggression, and suppression," Emanuel said.
The Ronald Reagan is expected to return to its home port of San Diego, California, in the coming weeks.
The departure of the Ronald Reagan from Yokosuka is a reminder of the changing security landscape in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. Navy is working to maintain a strong presence in the region in order to deter potential adversaries and support its allies and partners.
