In a significant strategic shift, the USS Ronald Reagan, a behemoth of American naval power, has departed from its Japanese home port in Yokosuka, marking the end of a near-decade-long deployment in a region rife with geopolitical tensions.

This nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, one of the largest warships in the American fleet, has been a cornerstone in the U.S. effort to strengthen defense ties with Japan and maintain a robust presence in the Indo-Pacific.

Family members and crew friends gathered at Yokosuka Naval Base, waving goodbye as hundreds of sailors lined the USS Ronald Reagan, some even forming the phrase “dewa mata” or “see you” on the flight deck, a nod to the deep cultural connections fostered during the carrier’s tenure.

The carrier’s departure, escorted by two guided-missile destroyers, USS Robert Smalls and USS Howard, marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in U.S. naval operations.

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

Japan has been rapidly enhancing its military capacity and significantly boosting joint naval exercises with the United States.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel emphasized the significance of the USS Ronald Reagan’s mission, stating, “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 sentiment underscores the carrier’s role not only as a projection of military might but also as a guardian of international norms and freedom of navigation.

Since its arrival in 2015, the USS Ronald Reagan has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts, notably participating in Operation Tomodachi following the devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in northeastern Japan.

This goodwill gesture, along with dozens of multilateral exercises and more than a dozen foreign port visits, including a historic call to Da Nang, Vietnam, has solidified the U.S.’s commitment to peace and stability in the region.

Its replacement, the USS George Washington, currently on assignment near South America, is expected to take over later this year, facilitating a “seamless transition” in the region’s power dynamics.

As Japan hastens the buildup of its military capabilities and enhances joint operations with the U.S., former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada’s recent words resonate with the urgency of the moment: “We have a sense of urgency that we must not let the East China Sea become another South China Sea.”

Inada, having joined an environmental survey trip near the Senkaku islands, underscored the need for cooperation with the U.S. and like-minded countries to defend the international order.

While not permitted to land on the islands, her group utilized drones for surveying land and vegetation.Inada argues that experts should be allowed to land on Japan’s territory for research and has called for parliamentary debate on the issue.

When it steers towards Bremerton, Washington, for its next assignment, the region looks ahead to how the USS George Washington will continue the legacy of its predecessor in safeguarding the Indo-Pacific’s precarious peace.

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