USS George Washington Returns to Japan for Forward Deployment

The U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered carrier resumes its role in the Western Pacific, reinforcing security partnerships near China.

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.