Seoul [South Korea], June 22: Yonhap quoted an announcement from the US Navy saying that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the naval base in Busan, 320 km southeast of Seoul, early this morning, June 22 (local time). ), along with two destroyers equipped with the Aegis defense system , USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye.
This is the first appearance of a US aircraft carrier in Korea after 7 months since the visit of USS Carl Vinson in November 2023. This is also the first time the USS Theodore Roosevelt makes a port call in Busan. The aircraft carrier participated in trilateral naval exercises between South Korea, the US and Japan in April.
The US Navy emphasized that the latest visit of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt aims to implement the US's "firm" extended deterrence commitment and strengthen the US-South Korea combined defense posture as well as the will to respond seriously. in the face of "increasing threats from North Korea".
The USS Theodore Roosevelt 's visit to Busan port took place when the three countries are expected to hold the first trilateral joint exercise, called Freedom Edge, later this month, in the context of the three sides wanting to strengthen cooperation. security to counter "threats from North Korea", according to Yonhap.
The three sides agreed to launch the Freedom Edge exercise during trilateral talks held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier this month. According to the agreement, the Freedom Edge exercise will take place in many different areas, including air, sea, underwater and cyber, according to Yonhap.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper