For the first time in about four years, a U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Friday. It will join other military ships in a display of force meant to send a message to North Korea.
Prior to joint drills with South Korean forces, the USS Ronald Reagan and ships from its accompanying strike group berthed at a naval facility in the southern port city of Busan.
Its landing signifies the largest deployment to date as part of a renewed effort to have more American “strategic assets” operate in the region to dissuade North Korea.
Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly, the commander of the strike group, told reporters on board the ship that the goal of the visit was to strengthen ties between the fleets and increase interoperability.
When asked about sending any messages to North Korea, he responded, “We are leaving communications to diplomats,” but adding that combined exercises would make sure the allies were prepared to counter any threats.
“We can practise our tactics and operations,” according to Donnelly.
In an effort to send a message to North Korea, which this year conducted a record number of missile launches and looks to be ready to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has pushed for more joint exercises and other military power demonstrations.
Previous U.S. military deployments and joint exercises have been blasted by North Korea as preparations for war and evidence of hostile actions by Washington and Seoul. Additionally, peace activists have protested the drills which are said to raise regional tentions.
The carrier’s visit, according to the US last week, was a “clear show” of the country’s will to deploy and use strategic assets to fend off Pyongyang and strengthen regional security.
The U.S. Navy did not mention North Korea in its announcement of the tour, referring merely to it as a “regularly scheduled port call” and emphasising that crew members were going to Busan to volunteer at orphanages and learn more about the K-pop music scene.
The carrier would be in port for “many days,” according to officials, who declined to disclose more information on the impending joint drills. Shortly after the ship anchored, numerous crew members lined up to take COVID-19 tests before being transported by bus into the city.
Because they were not permitted to speak to the media, one crew member who begged not to be named said they were looking forward to a break but that the geopolitical tensions were ever-present.
The crew members told the journalists, “You can’t ever really forget what we’re all here for.”
This is an American aircraft carrier’s first trip to South Korea since 2018. Since then, several drills have been curtailed or abandoned because of diplomatic attempts with North Korea or the COVID-19 epidemic.
Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea, said the carrier visit is good for political signalling, ensuring Seoul, and training with South Korean forces, but probably offers little to further deter North Korea.
Concerns have been raised about the potential contribution of the roughly 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan.
The U.S. Navy’s attempts to uphold the regional security and stability that has existed for more than seven decades, according to Donnelly, depend heavily on cooperating with friends who share the same values as it does. He claimed that such decisions should be made by higher-up politicians.
Featured Image: Flickr.com
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