US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan arrives in South Korea for joint military drills

Asia-Pacific, News, US September 24, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

United States Navy’s USS Ronald Reagan arrived in South Korea on September 23, 2022, along with its strike group, to participate in joint military drills with the South Korean forces.

This is the first time in four years that the U.S. has sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to South Korea. USS Ronald Reagan is docked at a naval base in South Korea’s southern port city, Busan. Last time it was in 2018 when the U.S. sent three of its aircraft carriers to South Korea to participate in joint military drills. Since then, many naval and military drills have been scaled down to canceled due to regional insatiability and the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

USS Ronald Reagan strike group commander Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly told the media that the visit aims to build allied relations and boost interoperability between the two navies. “The commitment of the U.S. carrier strike group operating in and around the peninsula illustrates our commitment to stand together and our desire and focus ensuring that we are interoperable and integrated to face any challenge or threat whenever we are required,” he said during a news conference.

USS Ronald Reagan’s strike group commander also stressed that the arrival of the aircraft carrier would send a strong message to the regional actors who plan to disrupt regional stability. Donnelly highlighted that “It’s an opportunity for us to practice tactics and operations.”

Upon being asked whether sending a nuclear aircraft carrier and arranging the joint drills is a U.S. way to send a message to North Korea and its nuclear efforts, he stated that “We are leaving messaging to diplomats.”

*^{The USS Ronald Reagan approaches a port in Busan, South Korea, on September 23, 2022. (Image Credit: Yonhap via Reuters)}*

Since coming into power in May 2022, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been stressing enhancing his country’s nuclear deterrence capabilities in the wake of North Korea’s nuclear threat. He had been pushing the U.S. for joint military exercises and for the display of military power after North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests this year.

The arrival of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group is one of the biggest military developments in the region in favor of South Korea. The carrier visit is useful for political signaling, reassuring Seoul, and training with South Korean forces, but analysts believe that this move would likely do little to further deter North Korea.

The U.S. or South Korean officials have not released the details for the joint military exercise and also refrained to provide a schedule for the departure of the aircraft carrier. It is expected that the ship would be docked in South Korea for several days before it participates in the drills.