Latest news with #USSRobertSmalls
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US and NATO Ally Flex Aircraft Carrier Muscles in Pacific
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Aircraft carriers deployed by the United States and the United Kingdom conducted joint operations during a war game amid concerns over China's increasing presence in the Pacific. The operations—which took place in the Timor Sea, north of Australia, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025—followed China's simultaneous deployment of a pair of aircraft carriers in the western Pacific in June, in a move seen as challenging U.S. naval dominance. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment via email. Why It Matters The American aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, is one of the U.S. naval vessels based in Japan. Prior to its deployment near Australia, the nuclear-powered warship patrolled the South China Sea, where China is involved in territorial disputes with regional countries. Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier, has been leading a naval strike group on an eight-month mission since April. It is scheduled to visit Japan later this summer. The deployment of the Prince of Wales marked the fourth time a European North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state has dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific since 2021, supporting efforts to keep China in check while the U.S. remains preoccupied with tensions in the Middle East. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, front, and the United States aircraft carrier USS George Washington, back, sail in formation in the Timor Sea on July 18. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, front, and the United States aircraft carrier USS George Washington, back, sail in formation in the Timor Sea on July 18. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada/U.S. Navy What To Know The USS George Washington, accompanied by the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and the destroyer USS Shoup, participated in dual aircraft carrier operations with the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on Friday, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy. The Prince of Wales was joined by two British ships—the destroyer HMS Dauntless and the tanker RFA Tidespring—alongside the Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney, the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec. In addition to naval vessels sailing in formation, U.S. Navy aircraft were seen flying over the joint U.S.-U.K. carrier strike group. The aircraft, including F-35C stealth fighter jets, were assigned to the Carrier Air Wing 5, which was deployed aboard the USS George Washington. The Prince of Wales also carried up to two dozen F-35B fighter jets, which are capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings on ships without full-length runways, while the F-35C—one of their sister variants—is specifically designed for operations from aircraft carriers. The Royal Navy said this powerful demonstration of naval power brought together advanced capabilities and carrier aviation, describing the formation as a "mighty allied naval force." The U.S. also deployed the amphibious assault ship USS America, which operates F-35B aircraft, for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. According to U.S. Navy photos, the warship was seen conducting flight operations in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia, on Wednesday. The United States George Washington Carrier Strike Group sails alongside the British Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on July 18. The United States George Washington Carrier Strike Group sails alongside the British Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on July 18. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said in a photo caption on Friday: "Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns." The Royal Navy said in a press release on Friday: "As allies demonstrate their commitment to the collective security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. Navy's George Washington Carrier Strike Group joined up with the U.K. Carrier Strike Group for dual carrier operations in the Timor Sea—between the Australian mainland and Timor-Leste and Indonesia." What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the USS America will join the USS George Washington and the Prince of Wales during the exercise in Australian waters, forming a triple F-35 carrier strike group.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Sends Military on Combat Patrol Against US Ally: Video
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military released a video showing it conducted a "combat-readiness patrol" around a disputed island near the Philippines—a defense treaty ally of the United States. The South China Sea island, Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Dao in Chinese and Bajo de Masinloc in Filipino, has been under Beijing's control since a 2012 maritime standoff with Manila. Newsweek has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment via email. Why It Matters China, the Philippines, and other countries have overlapping sovereignty claims in the South China Sea—a region rich in energy resources and serving as a vital global trade route—often resulting in maritime standoffs and clashes, particularly between Beijing and Manila. The Chinese military has regularly patrolled around Huangyan Dao to assert the East Asian power's sovereignty. The disputed island lies just 138 miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon, within the Southeast Asian country's 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zone. The U.S. signed a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines in 1951, which stated an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea would prompt the partnered countries to take action and "meet the common dangers." What To Know Chinese air and naval forces were deployed last Thursday to patrol China's airspace and territorial waters around Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas; this is according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, which focuses on the South China Sea. The Chinese military command stressed that it "resolutely" safeguards China's national sovereignty and security, and "firmly" maintains peace and stability in the South China Sea. In undated footage released last Thursday, multiple Chinese warships and aircraft were seen conducting patrols, with aircraft flying near the island carrying missiles under their wings. It remains unclear whether the footage was recorded during the recent combat-readiness patrol. The Chinese patrol coincided with the deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the South China Sea, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The American warship is the only U.S. aircraft carrier currently positioned to help counter China. In this photo taken from a video released by the Chinese military on July 3, 2025, a Chinese military aircraft flies near Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. In this photo taken from a video released by the Chinese military on July 3, 2025, a Chinese military aircraft flies near Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. Chinese military The George Washington departed Manila on Monday following a scheduled four-day port visit, accompanied by the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and the destroyer USS Shoup. The visit was part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group's patrol in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Eric J. Anduze, commander of the carrier strike group, said that both Washington and Manila share a strategic vision of a "free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," adding that their cooperative activities help preserve regional stability. What People Are Saying The Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command said in a statement last Thursday: "Since June, the PLA Southern Theater Command has continuously strengthened patrols in the sea and airspace around the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao to further intensify control over the relevant sea and airspace." The U.S. Navy said in a press release on Monday: "George Washington is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." What Happens Next China is expected to continue its military patrols around Huangyan Dao and other disputed islands under its control in the South China Sea. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will support its ally in countering China's growing military presence in the region.
