US aircraft carrier presence in western Pacific falls to one

The United States has reduced its aircraft carrier presence in the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean to a single carrier strike group after deploying additional naval forces to the Persian Gulf region, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing U.S. military statistics.

According to the report, Washington has concentrated three of its seven operational aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf to increase military pressure on Iran. The remaining four U.S. aircraft carriers are currently undergoing maintenance and technical inspections.

Since January, the U.S. military has had only one carrier strike group operating in the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. Nikkei said this marks the first time since 2021 that the region has been covered by just one U.S. carrier group, whereas at least two have typically been deployed.

The U.S. Navy permanently stations one aircraft carrier at Yokosuka, Japan, near the entrance to Tokyo Bay. Since 2016, however, additional carrier strike groups have regularly rotated into the region from other areas to reinforce the U.S. presence.

Nikkei said the current deployment could alter the regional balance of power, noting that China currently operates three aircraft carrier strike groups in the western Pacific.

By Sabina Mammadli