The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group departed from the South China Sea on Monday morning (June 16) and set sail westward towards the Middle East. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran in the region continues to escalate.
Originally scheduled to visit Danang City in Vietnam this week, the USS Nimitz’s docking plans have been confirmed to be canceled due to what was described as “emergency operational requirements.” The cancellation of the scheduled reception event on June 20 was communicated by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, according to a source.
According to data from the ship tracking website Marine Traffic, the USS Nimitz was seen heading westward on the 16th towards the Middle East.
Since late May, the USS Nimitz carrier strike group has been carrying out missions in the South China Sea. The U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet stated that the operations of the USS Nimitz in the South China Sea aim to demonstrate the U.S. military’s ability to maintain combat superiority.
In a press release, the U.S. Pacific Fleet stated that the operations of the USS Nimitz carrier strike group in the South China Sea include flight missions of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and tactical training between surface ships and air units. These actions are part of the routine deployments of the U.S. Navy in the Indo-Pacific region, including flight training during day and night.
The Pacific Fleet emphasized that these operations contribute to maintaining maritime security, enhancing joint operational capabilities with regional partners, and ensuring the U.S. Navy’s ability to deploy military forces, demonstrate power, or conduct operations in the entire operational area at any time.
Prior to the USS Nimitz’s deployment to the South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had warned that the Chinese Communist Party is increasingly pursuing hegemony and leaning towards the use of force.