US down to a single Pacific aircraft carrier for last 22 weeks
The United States has kept only a single aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the past 22 weeks, according to a Nikkei analysis. The figure points to a period in which Washington's regional military presence has thinned. The development has reignited debate over the balance of power in Asia.
The United States has deployed only one aircraft carrier in the Pacific region for the past 22 weeks, according to a Nikkei analysis. It marks a period in which Washington's naval power in the region has been unusually thin.
Some carriers are outside the Pacific for maintenance, exercises or operations in other regions. Developments in the Middle East have redistributed the navy's priorities.
Experts say a limited carrier presence matters for the deterrence balance in the Asia-Pacific. Regional countries are closely watching the continuity of US military commitments, and analysts stress that carrier rotations will be critical in the period ahead.
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