USS Ronald Reagan Wraps Up Nearly Nine Years of Deployment in Indo-Pacific

Yokosuka, Japan - After nearly nine years of deployment in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Navy strike group's flagship aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, has departed from its Japanese home port. The carrier played a significant role in strengthening defense ties with Japan and other regional partners.

The departure of USS Ronald Reagan comes at a time of increasing tension due to China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. The carrier, being one of America’s largest warships and a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has been a key asset in the U.S. effort to bolster regional defense.

Replacement and Military Buildup

Later this year, USS George Washington, another Nimitz-class carrier, will replace USS Ronald Reagan. Meanwhile, Japan has been accelerating the buildup of its military capability and significantly increasing joint naval operations with the United States.

Family members and friends of the crew bid farewell to USS Ronald Reagan from Yokosuka Naval Base after its final patrolling mission. The carrier was accompanied by two guided-missile destroyers, USS Robert Smalls and USS Howard.

During the departure, hundreds of sailors stood along the rails while others on the flight deck formed the Japanese saying “dewa mata,” or “see you." U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel ensured a “seamless transition” during the ceremony.

Supporting Freedom in the Indo-Pacific

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel highlighted the USS Ronald Reagan’s role in ensuring the freedom of millions of people across the Indo-Pacific, allowing them to live free of coercion, aggression, and suppression.

USS Ronald Reagan first arrived in Yokosuka in 2015 and has contributed significantly to various operations and exercises. Notably, it played a key role in Operation Tomodachi following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in northeastern Japan.