A significant chapter in U.S. naval history closed as the USS Ronald Reagan, a formidable Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, departed from its Yokosuka base in Japan after an almost decade-long deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, a key strategic area amidst rising tensions.

USS Ronald Reagan was the sole American aircraft carrier deployed as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5 in the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, stationed at a home port outside the U.S.

It will be replaced later this year by the USS George Washington, another Nimitz-class carrier, currently on assignment near South America.

Last Thursday, in a poignant farewell attended by crew members’ families and friends, the nuclear-powered behemoth—which has been a staple of American military presence and a symbol of the U.S.-Japan alliance—said its goodbye to the Yokosuka Naval Base.

With hundreds of sailors lining its rails and others forming the words “dewa mata” (“see you”) on the flight deck, the USS Ronald Reagan sailed off, accompanied by two guided-missile destroyers, USS Robert Smalls and USS Howard.

It is scheduled to transit in Bremerton, Washington, later this year, before heading to a next home port assignment.

The ship’s role in fortifying defense ties with regional partners and its strategic military contributions, including Operation Tomodachi in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in northeastern Japan, have been pivotal.

The carrier’s illustrious service included multilateral exercises and more than a dozen port visits, including a historic call to Da Nang, Vietnam.

USS Ronald Reagan first arrived in Yokosuka in 2015. The USS Ronald Reagan’s contribution to the Indo-Pacific cannot be understated.

As noted by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel during the farewell ceremony, “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.”

This statement underscores the carrier’s role in fostering a semblance of stability in a region fraught with geopolitical friction.

In the vacuum of the USS Ronald Reagan’s absence, its counterpart, USS George Washington, another Nimitz-class carrier currently near South America, is expected to replace it later this year.

Former Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada’s recent comments during an environmental survey trip near the contentious Senkaku Islands—reflect the urgency felt by Japan and its allies.

“We have a sense of urgency that we must not let the East China Sea become another South China Sea,” Inada stated, illustrating the concern that these areas may become flashpoints of international conflict.

Inada suggested that experts should have the ability to access Japan’s territory for research purposes, and called for a parliamentary debate.

Relevant articles:
– USS Ronald Reagan leaves its Japan home port after nearly 9 years, Dayton Daily News
– USS Ronald Reagan leaves its Japan home port after nearly 9 years, AP News