The US Navy has no aircraft carriers deployed in Pacific as Middle East conflicts pull the Pentagon’s focus from China

But the move has left the Pacific without a deployed aircraft carrier, a powerful combat platform and a visible symbol of American naval power that reflects US interests and security commitments in priority regions.

US aircraft carriers and the other warships in their strike groups bring a tremendous amount of firepower to any situation, making them formidable power projection assets that represent the military’s reach and readiness.

All of the US West Coast-based carriers are in port or currently unavailable. The USS Ronald Reagan, which was home-ported in Japan for nine years as the Navy’s only forward-deployed carrier, was recently redeployed back to the States. And the replacement, the USS George Washington, remains in San Diego for the time being.

Asked about how long the US military expects not to have an aircraft carrier in the region and whether the absence of carriers is concerning, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the Indo-Pacific was still the US’ primary focus, a statement consistent with Pentagon rhetoric consistently identifying China as a “pacing challenge” for the military.

The recent changes in the force posture of US naval power come amid rising tensions in the Pacific, particularly as China continues its aggressive behavior.

On Monday, a Chinese military spy plane violated Japanese airspace for the first time, and China also continues to confront Philippine vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea. It has also been upping its pressure on Taiwan, continuing to trigger concerns about a quarantine, potential blockade, or invasion.

The US military serves as a security guarantor for Taiwan and American allies in the Indo-Pacific region. As tensions rise, so do the risks, highlighting the value of being able to maintain deterrence in this region the way it is in the Middle East. That doesn’t all hinge on a carrier, but the gap is notable nonetheless.