Overview

• The USS George Washington has returned to Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan after a nine-year absence, following a comprehensive midlife overhaul and modernization in the U.S.
• This deployment ends a temporary 'carrier gap' in the Western Pacific, restoring the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier presence in the region.
• The carrier participated in trilateral exercises with Japan and South Korea near the Korean Peninsula before arriving at its new homeport.
• Equipped with advanced technology and an F-35C stealth fighter jet squadron, the George Washington enhances U.S. naval capabilities in key conflict-prone areas like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
• The deployment underscores the U.S.-Japan security alliance, which includes the presence of 54,000 U.S. military personnel and a commitment to defending Japan with a full range of military capabilities.