U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Has Gone to Vietnam – Though it isn’t as significant as President Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 – the first-ever visit by a U.S. president while in office – the United States Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and a pair of guided missile cruisers arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam for a rare port call on Sunday.
USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls joined the carrier to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam “comprehensive partnership.”
The visit comes just weeks after Hanoi protested a Chinese vessel sailing into its waters.
It is just the third time that a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has visited the Southeast Asian nation – and the first for the aircraft carrier named for the late President Ronald Reagan. USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) visited Vietnam in 2018, the first such deployment since the Vietnam War; followed by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in 2020, which marked the 25th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and Washington.
USS Ronald Reagan was initially scheduled to visit Vietnam last year, but the port call was canceled unexpectedly, likely due to rising tensions in the South China Sea. This week’s visit is now seen as a “positive expression” of Washington’s commitment to peace in the South China Sea.
“We’re excited to come to Vietnam and appreciate the welcome our strike group has received,” said Rear Adm. Pat Hannifin, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70/Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5. “Visits like this reinforce our partnership and commitment to confronting shared challenges in the maritime domain. They also provide a great opportunity for our Sailors to engage with the Vietnamese people and culture.”
In addition to the cultural and professional exchanges such as community service projects, sports competitions, and receptions planned for the port call, U.S. Navy musicians from the U.S. 7th Fleet Band will perform free concerts for the public, it was announced.
“More than 5,000 Sailors aboard USS Ronald Reagan are eager to visit Da Nang and experience Vietnamese culture,” said Capt. Daryle Cardone, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. “A few Reagan sailors call Vietnam home. But for most, it will be their first time visiting. In addition, some of the crew will volunteer at several community relations events, play sports with local athletes, and participate in a unique culinary exchange.”
Far East Show of Force
Based in Yokosuka, Japan, CVN-76 is currently the only U.S. Navy carrier operating in the Indo-Pacific, as USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is now at Pearl Harbor.
However, the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) has also been operating in the region and docked last week in Brisbane, Australia, for a three-day visit. The warship, which is as large as many carriers operated by foreign navies, is reportedly preparing to take part in the U.S.-Australian-led multinational exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, scheduled to begin next month. It will be the 10th and largest iteration of the exercise. It will consist of field training drills incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, and air combat and maritime operations. More than 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations will directly participate in this year’s Talisman Sabre 2023.
Deterrent to China
The goal of the upcoming joint exercise, as well as the deployment of USS Ronald Reagan to Vietnam, is to send a message to Beijing, which has become increasingly aggressive.
Even as the U.S. Navy is now smaller in overall size, Washington is forging partnerships to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
