The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived at the port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, a few days ago for a scheduled visit after three weeks of operations in the South China Sea. In that area, prior to its arrival, the carrier and its escort group conducted exercises as part of Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA) with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, marking the third time the U.S. aircraft carrier has sailed through these disputed waters.
The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Carrier Strike Group departed from San Diego en route to the Indo-Pacific in mid-November 2024. As part of the initial phase of this deployment, CVN-70 and its escorts were sent to the South China Sea to operate within the U.S. Seventh Fleet’s area of responsibility. During its transit, the Strike Group carried out several port visits and exercises, including a stop in Singapore during Christmas, followed by its first deployment in the South China Sea. This deployment included flight operations by its embarked Air Wing, coordinated sailings, and freedom of navigation operations, as officially reported.
Subsequently, in the last days of December, the carrier made the second visit of such a vessel to Malaysia in just over a month since 2012, highlighting the intent to strengthen security ties with the country, among other objectives.
Although earlier reports indicated that CVN-70 would be positioned in Southeast and Northeast Asia, the latest updates from the U.S. Navy placed it back in the South China Sea after January 15, marking its third deployment to this area within a short period.
As mentioned earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Navy conducted a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea on January 17-18 to demonstrate their commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. According to an official statement, each MCA builds upon past experiences, adding layers of complexity and interoperability to enhance combined capabilities, tactics, techniques, and procedures, always in accordance with international law while ensuring navigational safety and respecting the rights and interests of other states.
A few days later, as part of routine visits and efforts to strengthen U.S. alliances, CVN-70 deployed to the Gulf of Thailand, where aircraft from the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group trained with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), a collaboration that has occurred in previous years. According to released images, U.S. F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs flew alongside two RMAF Su-30MKM fighter jets.
It is worth noting that the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group includes the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Sterett (DDG-104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). The aircraft carrier also carries personnel and aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Two. During the latest exercise with Thailand, the U.S. Navy did not specify whether CVN-70 was accompanied by its Strike Group escorts, including USS Princeton (CG-59), USS Sterett (DDG-104), and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110).
You may also like: The new MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone could make its first flight from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in 2026
