Specific timelines will be announced separately, closer
to the actual movement of the carriers.
The United States values Japan's contributions to
the peace, security and stability of the Indo-Asia-Pacific and its
long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting U.S. forces forward
deployed there. These forces, along with their counterparts in the
Japan Self-Defense Forces, make up the core capabilities needed by
the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives.
The security environment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific
requires that the U.S. Navy station the most capable ships forward.
This posture allows the most rapid response times possible for maritime
and joint forces, and brings our most capable ships with the greatest
amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the
timeliest manner.
The ship rotation will not necessitate a change in
the assigned air wing, nor in the composition of the air wing. Carrier
Air Wing 5 will remain the forward-deployed air wing located at Naval
Air Facility Atsugi. This ship rotation also does not necessitate
any changes to base facilities in either San Diego or Yokosuka.
In 2008, George Washington was the first nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier sent to Japan as part of the FDNF. Maintaining an
FDNF capability supports the United States' commitment to the defense
of Japan and the security and stability of the vital Indo-Asia-Pacific.
