The reality is that America’s military focus has already been shifting east to the Indo-Pacific region and the rise of China.
The Pentagon identifies China as its greatest security challenge. China now has a larger navy than the US. It’s building a fleet the size of the entire Royal Navy every two years.
The sailors and pilots on board the carrier recognise there’s a pivot east too.
Cdr Bernie Lutz has spent much of his naval career flying F-18s off a US carrier in the Pacific and Middle East.
He recognises why they’re now sailing in European waters. “There’s a lot going on,” he says.
But he adds, “I think the Pacific theatre is the bigger, overarching long-term goal”.
Like the rest of the 5,000-strong crew of the carrier, he has not yet been told where they’ll be sailing next – but it’s been widely reported that the USS Harry S Truman will soon be on its way to the Middle East.
That region, too, will remain a challenge for whoever’s president next.
Capt Dave Snowden says he’s happy to carry the banner of de-escalation or deterrence or even sail into harm’s way – wherever the carrier’s sent.
But the lack of serious foreign policy debate in the election reflects a reluctance to get directly involved in more wars.
America will still remain the world’s most pre-eminent military power.
The question is how will the next president use it.
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Publish date : 2024-11-01 19:08:00
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